The Department of Labor has extended the deadline for comments on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) from February 2 (this coming Friday) to February 16 (two weeks later). See the notice published in the Federal Register here.

What’s the comment period about? In a nutshell: anytime a federal agency wants to makes changes to the regulations that it enforces or administers, it will usually start, under the Administrative Procedures Act, by seeking public comment. This is the “average Joe or Jane”’s opportunity to be heard directly on issues of great importance to the general public. Anyone can comment - individuals, lobbyists, organizations, businesses, other governmental units. The agency then considers all comments and thereafter announces its course of action - be it a revision, a new regulation, or interpretative shift.

This isn’t always true, of course. A prime example: the Transportation Security Administration, which was given broad powers by Congress to put in place certain security measures without a public comment period.

So if you want your voice to be heard on the FMLA, take a look at the Federal Register notice, and send in your comments by Feb. 16, 2007.

Other Sources:

• Ross Employment Law Blog
• Jottings By an Employer’s Lawyer
• Text of Administrative Procedures Act