District of Columbia DC Family Medical Leave Act Poster

DC Family Medical Leave Act Workplace Poster
Updated: May 17, 2024

Know Your Rights in the District of Columbia
Work Leave for Family or Medical Purposes:
The District of Columbia Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA) requires employers with 20 or more
employees to provide eligible employees with 16 weeks of family leave and 16 weeks of medical leave
during a 24-month period. However, the law does not require employers to specifically pay for leave
under DCFMLA, except that employees may use accrued leave (i.e., sick, annual, PTO, etc.) and where
applicable, for private sector, payment under the Universal Paid Leave Act, and for DC government
employees, payment under the Paid Family Leave Act.
Family Leave
•

Eligible circumstances for family leave under DCFMLA include the birth of a child, adopting
a child, or caring for a child in foster care. Caring for a seriously ill family member is also
eligible for family leave.

Medical Leave
•

Eligible circumstances for medical leave under DCFMLA includes recovering from a serious
illness rendering the employee unable to work.

Leave under DCFMLA may be taken in blocks of time, intermittently, and in certain circumstances, at a
reduced schedule.
The employer may require medical certification and reasonable prior notice when applicable.

Employee Eligibility
An employee is eligible under the Act if she or he has been employed by the employer for at least 12
consecutive or non-consecutive months in the seven years immediately preceding the start of the
family or medical leave, and worked at least 1,000 hours during these 12 months 1.
The District government is considered a single employer. The above eligibility requirements can be met
by considering employment at more than one District agency.

Employer Posting Requirements
The employer must post and maintain this notice in a conspicuous place. An employer that willfully
fails to post this notice may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $100 for each day the employer fails to
post the notice.

For family or medical leave that began prior to November 13, 2021, an employee is eligible under the Act if she or he was employed by the employer for
at least one year without a break in service, and worked at least 1,000 hours during the 12 month period immediately preceding the requested leave. The
one year of service requirement did not need to have immediately preceded the request for leave.

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Filing a Complaint of a Violation
If you believe an employer has wrongfully denied you family or medical leave, or retaliated against you
under this statute, you can file a complaint within one year of the incident with the Office of Human
Rights (OHR). To file a complaint, visit:
• Online at ohr.dc.gov; or
• In-Person at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001.
Questions about the OHR process can also be answered by phone at (202) 727-4559

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