Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 107 Part 1.djvu/33

 PUBLIC LAW 103-3 —FEB. 5, 1993 107 STAT. 7 (2) it is important for the development of children and the family imit that fathers and mothers be able to participate in early childrearing and the care of family members who have serious health conditions; (3) the lack of employment policies to accommodate working parents can force individuals to choose between job security and parenting; (4) there is inadequate job security for employees who have serious health conditions that prevent them from working for temporary periods; (5) due to the nature of the roles of men and women in our society, the primary responsibility for family caretaking often falls on women, and such responsibility affects the working lives of women more than it affects the working lives of men; and (6) employment standards that apply to one gender only have serious potential for encouraging employers to discriminate against employees and applicants for employment who are of that gender. (b) PURPOSES.—It is the purpose of this Act— (1) to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families, to promote the stability and economic security of families, and to promote national interests in preserving family integrity; (2) to entitle employees to take reasonable leave for medical reasons, for the birth or adoption of a child, and for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition; (3) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers; (4) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that, consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, minimizes the Potential for employment discrimination on the basis of sex y ensuring generally that leave is available for eligible medical reasons (including maternity-related disability) and for compelling family reasons, on a gender-neutral basis; and (5) to promote the goal of equal employment opportunity for women and men, pursuant to such clause. TITLE I—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LEAVE SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. 29 USC 2611. As used in this title: (1) COMMERCE.— The terms "commerce" and "industry or activity affecting commerce" mean any activity, business, or industry in commerce or in which a labor dispute would hinder or obstruct commerce or the free flow of commerce, and include "commerce" and any "industry affecting commerce", as defined in paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 501 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 142 (1) and (3)). (2) ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE.— (A) IN GENERAL. — The term "eligible employee" means an employee who has been employed— -194O-94-2:QL.3Part1

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