According to a survey by FMLASource, the number of employees taking unpaid leave from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has risen by 10 percent in 2010.

“As companies continue to operate with leaner staffs in a slowly recovering economy, many workers are seeking FMLA job protection in order to take time off to care for themselves as well as family members,” said Jim Brown, vice president of FMLASource.

FMLASource cited three primary reasons for those taking such leave: 1) personal illness or injury, 2) caring for a child, and 3) caring for an elderly relative.

Human resource professionals often cite the record-keeping requirements of FMLA leave as being their biggest headache.

Fortunately, Personnel Concepts offers all the required record-keeping forms as well as an FMLA Regulatory Updates Compliance Kit on its Web site to help you manage your personnel and stay in compliance with the federal unpaid-leave program.