All tools · FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter
Does Florida Have Paid Family Leave Law?
Use the free tool — FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter
Is there a Florida law for paid family leave?
No. Florida has no state family or medical leave law for private employers. There is no state program that pays you while you're out for a birth, a serious illness, or a family member's hospital stay. The only leave law most Florida workers have is federal: the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., and 29 CFR Part 825.
What FMLA actually gives you — and doesn't
FMLA gives eligible workers 12 weeks of job-protected leave. It does not pay you. It protects your job and your health insurance while you're out, but the leave itself is unpaid.
- Qualifying reasons include: birth, adoption, a serious health condition of you or a parent, child, or spouse, and military family leave.
- Leave can sometimes be taken intermittently, under separate rules.
The three eligibility tests
You only qualify if all three of these are true:
- 12 months with your employer.
- 1,250 hours worked in the last 12 months.
- 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
Hours are counted by your employer's own records — ask for them if you're not sure.
Deadlines you should know
Once you send a written request, FMLA and 29 CFR Part 825 set deadlines on the employer's side, including a 5-day deadline for certain responses. A written request should give 30 days' notice (or as soon as practicable), state your reason and dates, and ask for the eligibility notice and the medical certification form.
What Florida adds — and what it doesn't
Florida adds nothing to FMLA by state law. Some employers offer more than FMLA requires through their own policy — check your employee handbook to see if that applies to you.
If your leave is denied or you face retaliation
This is not something a self-check tool can resolve. For a denial or retaliation, the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243) is free to call. This is not legal advice — confirm your situation with a professional or with the agency.
What to do next
The free FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter tool reads your own dates, hours, and company size — not general examples — and computes the three tests for your situation. It also drafts the written request letter that starts the deadlines on the employer's side. It's free, available in English and Spanish, and it is not legal advice.
FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter is an informational tool based on the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) and 29 CFR Part 825 as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice and does not file requests. Eligibility depends on employer records; the employer's written eligibility notice controls. Florida has no state family/medical leave statute for private employers. It is not affiliated with any employer or agency.