Leave of absence laws give employees the right to leave for a variety of reasons—personal or family illness, pregnancy, military service, family military leave, and other personal reasons. A leave of absence of between 12 and 26 weeks must be given to qualifying employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the 2009 Family and Medical Leave Act regulations. The medical leave act provisions require covered employers to grant leave to eligible employees for their own serious health conditions, to care for a covered family member with a serious health condition, and for family military leave for a qualifying exigency or to care for a seriously injured or ill servicemember or veteran. The family leave provisions also require covered employers to grant leave to eligible employees after the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child, to bond with the child.