Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 10 Unit 1 Learning About Human Services Today, human services professionals work in government, private businesses, places of worship, hospitals, schools, and throughout communities. New programs continue to be developed to help meet people’s needs. Reading Recall 1. Define the term ideology. 2. Identify two factors that influenced the formation of human services. 3. How did Mary Richmond’s philosophy of helping the poor differ from Jane Addams’ philosophy? 4. Name three world events that helped shape human services in the US. 5. How did the New Deal impact human services? 6. Which part of the federal government administers and oversees programs and services concerning health and welfare? Do workers have the right to take time off work to care for family members? It depends. They always have the choice, of course. The right to not be terminated in the event of taking a leave for family reasons, however, varies. In the US, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enables employees to take job-protected leave to care for family members in need. Family members that the law covers involve close family members, such as spouses, children, and parents. FMLA became law in 1993. This act gave many families the flexibility to care for their loved ones in times of need. In 2008, the law was expanded to include care for military family members, especially when returning from deployment. Examples of circumstances when the FMLA could provide coverage include • the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee, for both mothers and fathers • the placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care, for both mothers and fathers • care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition and • medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition. Not all employers are required to comply. Generally, however, government, public education, and companies employing 50 people or more are included. Eligible employees are those who have worked for a covered employer for at least 12 months. During this time, they must also have worked at least 1,250 hours. They must also work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. Qualified employers must grant an eligible employee a total of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period. Even so, work and family issues require thought, planning, and flexibility. Writing Activity Write a one- to two-page scenario in story form about a fictional family that qualifies for taking leave under the FMLA. When writing your story, consider the following: • How might taking a leave affect the employee positively? negatively? • How might taking a leave affect the employer and coworkers positively? negatively? • In what specific ways might taking a leave under the FMLA positively affect the family? FMLA Eligibility Law and Ethics