The Family and Medical Leave Act lays out the specific reasons that qualify and the maximum duration of unpaid leave. A maximum of 12 weeks leave is allowed for the following reasons:

• For the birth and care of an employee’s child.
• For placement with the employee of an adopted or foster-care child.
• To care for the employee’s spouse, son, daughter or parent with a serious health condition.
• For the employee’s own serious health condition.
• Because of a qualifying exigency due to the military duty of an employee’s spouse, son, daughter or parent.