Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA)

Florida does not have a state-level family or medical leave law that supplements the federal FMLA. For most employees in Florida, the right to unpaid, job-protected leave for serious health conditions or caregiving relies entirely on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). To qualify, you generally must work for an employer with 50+ employees and have worked there for at least 12 months.

Florida workers are protected against disability discrimination through the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA), codified in Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes. The FCRA prohibits employment discrimination based on disability, race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, and handicap. Employers with 15 or more employees are covered. The FCRA provides a state-level pathway for filing complaints through the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR).

Florida does not mandate paid sick leave at the state level, and the state legislature has preempted local governments from enacting their own paid sick leave or minimum wage ordinances beyond the state minimum. Workers' compensation in Florida covers mental health injuries, but "mental-only" claims (mental injury without physical injury) require clear and convincing evidence of a traumatic workplace event.

Despite lacking a state leave law, Florida workers have meaningful protections through the combination of federal FMLA, the ADA, and the Florida Civil Rights Act. Understanding which protections apply depends on your employer's size, your length of employment, and the nature of your condition.

Leave: Florida does not have a state family or medical leave law. Federal FMLA is the primary source of job-protected leave.

Anti-Discrimination: The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) matches the federal ADA's 15-employee threshold. It is enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations, which offers a generous 365-day filing deadline.