With many Louisiana schools back from the summer break, employers may want to take note of a Louisiana law regarding employee leave for school conferences and activities.

In 1993, the Louisiana Legislature enacted the “Louisiana School and Day Care Conference and Activities Leave Act.” La. R.S. 23:1015, et seq. Under the Act, an employer may grant an employee unpaid leave from work for up to a total of sixteen (16) hours during any twelve (12) month period to attend, observe, or participate in conferences or classroom activities for the employees’ child. The leave is for cases when the conference or activity cannot be scheduled during the employee’s non-working time. Employees who wish to take advantage of this type of leave are required to provide their employer with reasonable advance notice prior to the leave and to make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the employer’s operations. Although this leave is unpaid, employers are required to permit employees to substitute any accrued vacation or other appropriate paid leave for unpaid school and day care conference leave. The Act is tucked away in the revised statutes and there does not appear to be any case law on the Act to provide employers or employees with guidance.