Today, we are stepping back to acknowledge a significant milestone in labor history - the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). A turning point that marked a new era in labor rights, the FMLA was a bipartisan triumph that forever altered the employment landscape.

In February 1993, the worries of many American employees clinging to their jobs and health insurance during demanding times were finally relieved. The FMLA allowed employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for critical family and medical reasons while maintaining their health insurance. Over the years, this vital legislation has become a beacon of hope, promoting work-life balance and ensuring the health and wellbeing of families are never sacrificed for job security.

The U.S. Department of Labor is commemorating this momentous occasion with nationwide events, stakeholder engagement, and interagency collaboration. This includes launching a dedicated webpage stocked with new and updated resources, ensuring the continuing relevance of this landmark legislation.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh emphasized the transformative impact of the FMLA on workers' lives. He highlighted the achievements of the act, while also recognizing the need for further efforts to protect workers' rights to job-protected leave.

Since 1993, the Wage and Hour Division has successfully assisted numerous workers facing denials of leave, unjust terminations, and loss of healthcare coverage during leave. Remarkably, the division has recovered more than $63 million in back wages for affected workers.

As we honor those who championed the FMLA's passage and those who tirelessly uphold workers' rights today, we also look forward to events and activities planned for 2023. These will range from stakeholder engagement on parental, caregiver, and medical leave issues, to regional FMLA rights and responsibilities education, to an ever-growing array of resources on FMLA enforcement.

It's an exciting time to witness the strides labor rights have made, and we eagerly anticipate the journey ahead.