Under the Family Leave Act, is an employer required to maintain health benefits for an employee?

Under the Family Leave Act, employers are indeed required to maintain health benefits for employees during their leave. This provision is designed to ensure that employees do not lose their health insurance coverage while taking leave for qualifying events, such as the birth of a child, the adoption of a child, or caring for a family member with a serious health condition. The Act mandates that the employer continues to provide the same level of health benefits as if the employee were still at work, which protects the employee's access to necessary medical care during their time of absence.

This requirement helps promote stability and security for employees as they navigate personal and family health issues, reinforcing the principle that family leave should not come at the cost of losing vital health coverage. In contrast, the other options suggest varying degrees of employer discretion regarding health benefits, which does not align with the legal obligations established by the Family Leave Act.