Wage & Hour Division To Revise FMLA Definition of Spouse

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is set to revise its definition of the term 'spouse' for purposes of the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This change was prompted by the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor, in which the Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. With this new definition, companies should review handbooks, procedures, and any other FMLA-related materials to ensure they are consistent with current Federal Regulations.

On February 14, an organizing attempt by the United Auto Workers (UAW) Union was defeated at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TN. Considering Volkswagen did not openly oppose the Union's effort, the election seemed to be an easy win for UAW; however, politicians came out in strong opposition to the Union, which ultimately failed to gather support from a majority of workers. UAW must now cease all organizing for one year at the Chattanooga plant. This defeat is a particularly difficult loss for the UAW, because organizing the Southern U.S. has long been a goal for the Union.