The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave a year, and requires group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if employees continued to work instead of taking leave. Employees are also entitled to return to their same or an equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave. Military family leave is also covered by the FMLA. FMLA leaves may be taken by eligible employees for specific reasons related to the deployment of their family members in the armed forces. In addition, they may take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member who is seriously injured or ill.