The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees unpaid leave to individuals who work for an employer with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius. An employee must have worked for the company for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours within those 12 months. The leave provides for caring for adoption or foster care placement issues and caring for a sick child, spouse, or parent.

If you work for an employer with less than 50 employees, consider discussing your need for time off and attempt to work out a win-win solution for both you and your employer.

It might be worthwhile to check your state's amendments to FMLA. For example, in 2008 Oregon law will allow time off for care of a grandparent or grandchild. Your local Area Agency on Aging office or state AARP office may be able to help you locate your state's specific laws for employers. In another example, on July 1, 2004, California implemented the first and only paid family leave bill in the nation's history.

For additional information on FMLA, visit the U.S. Department of Labor at: http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/.