According to BusinessWeek, the U.S. Congress recently introduced a bill — as well as proposed laws in four states — that would expand the 14-year-old Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This will be made possible by creating insurance programs to pay employees on leave, and would cover companies with as few as 25, 15, or even a single employee.

As mentioned in the article, "the FMLA mandates that companies with 50 or more workers provide unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks, with job protection, in the event of illness, childbirth, or adoption, or to care for a sick relative. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced a bill on Mar. 16 that would require all companies to offer six days' pay for sick leave or to take care of a sick child. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) is expected to follow with a bill that calls for companies employing 25 or more to give six weeks of paid leave. The cost would be split among employers, employees, and the feds."

The bill has momentum, but the Labor Department is in the process of collecting comments in an effort to help clarify it. FMLA supports fear that it will only lead to the Labor Department restricting the law.

Click here to read this full report.