THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, October 21, 1995             TAG: 9510210285
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

SURVEY: 2 PERCENT OF WORKERS TAKE UNPAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE PROPONENTS SAY LAW ISN'T HURTING EMPLOYERS, BUT SOME DISAGREE.

Proponents say a new law allowing workers to take unpaid leave from their jobs for medical or family emergencies is not having a drastic effect on employers. A survey shows just 2 percent of workers taking leave.

The survey conducted by the University of Michigan for the congressionally established Family Leave Commission also found that men and women use the leave benefits almost equally.

The survey found that women who use the law were more likely to take leave to care for seriously ill family members. Men were more likely to use their leave as a result of their own personal illness.

The commission was established as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which President Clinton signed Feb. 5, 1993.

The law provides for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for workers with serious health conditions, to care for newborn or adopted children or to cope with serious illness of family members. It is limited to businesses with more than 50 employees.

``Employees are finding the leave critical to their family and health care needs,'' said Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich, whose department enforces the law. ``Employers are having little difficulty administering the benefits and in many cases find it actually improves morale in the workplace.''

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., the law's author and the commission chairman, said Thursday the surve law would hurt productivity and increase employer burdens.

``This report proves just the opposite,'' Dodd said. ``The sky isn't falling. The law is making a significant difference in the lives of American families . . . with no real impact on businesses.''

Some employers disagreed. Executives of Bell Atlantic Corp., for instance, told the commission in August the telephone company was losing millions of dollars as workers take 65 percent more sick leave than prior to the law.

KEYWORDS: FAMILY LEAVE by CNB