About a year ago, the Department of Labor decided it needed to update its Family and Medical Leave Act research beyond the analysis that was done in 2000. Reasonably, the department took an initiative to address evolving economic conditions and regulations.

DOL solicited comments last April, after which – some hoped – that "any new or proposed FMLA regulations should contain revised FMLA forms that more accurately reflect the recent changes to the law, including family military leave lists of covered individuals, servicemember caregiver documentation, and the expanded in loco parentis coverage," according to a white paper published on hr.blr.com.

The Labor Department is considering a change to FMLA to expand eligibility for leave protection to workers with family members who are either currently serving or are veterans. When you look at the statistics just on veterans, it's a wonder this move wasn't made earlier. According to veterannewsroom.com:

• There are approximately 25 million veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces alive today
• There are about 37 million dependents (spouses and dependent children) of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans. Together they represent 20 percent of the U.S. population.
• Approximately 300,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – nearly 20 percent of the returning forces – are likely to suffer from either PTSD or major depression, and these numbers continue to climb.
• An additional 320,000 of the returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan may have experienced traumatic brain injuries during deployment.
• By fiscal year 2005, the VA's own statistics indicated that PTSD was the fourth most common service-related disability for service members receiving benefits.

Military families weren't the only work force segment able to push for a landmark rule change on medical leave this week. In an announcement made Monday, The Association of Flight Attendants reported some 60,000 flight attendents are now able to have the same access to coverage that has long benefited working families.