Families of injured soldiers could receive unpaid leave

By Marc Kovac

Employers would have to return workers to their previous positions once the leave is completed.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House has passed legislation that would provide unpaid leave for families of military men and women injured in combat.

Substitute House Bill 48, sponsored by Rep. Peter Ujvagi, a Democrat from Toledo, was approved earlier this week on a vote of 86-8 and heads to the Ohio Senate for further deliberation.

The legislation would enable parents or spouses of men and women injured while on active duty to take up to 10 days per year of unpaid leave.

Employees would have to be on the payroll for 12 consecutive months, give a 14-day notice of their intention to take the days off and use up all other accrued leave or compensatory time in advance.

Employers would have to return workers to their previous positions once the leave is completed. Those that violate the law could face civil actions.

Ujvagi said the legislation has been in the works for four years, and his office and other lawmakers have heard from constituents who have been fired or threatened by employers for taking time off to be with injured spouses who serve in the military.

“One of the jobs of legislators is to protect those who are making the sacrifices for our country,” he said. “Denying military families their most vital time together during a period of extreme stress would be a failure to do that job.”

mkovac@dixcom.com