Which of the following is a requirement for eligibility under the FMLA?

Eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) stipulates that employees must have worked at least 1,250 hours in the preceding year. This requirement is crucial because it ensures that only those employees who have put in a significant amount of time with their employer can access the protections and benefits provided under the FMLA. The reasoning behind this requirement is to focus on establishing a level of commitment and investment in the job, thereby qualifying individuals who are likely to be more integrated within the workforce and less prone to misuse the leave provisions.

The other criteria mentioned do not align with FMLA eligibility standards. For instance, the requirement related to working for 10 months is not accurate, as the FMLA does not specify a minimum duration of employment in months—rather, it requires a total of 12 months of service. The notion of being the sole breadwinner is not a consideration under the FMLA and does not factor into an employee's eligibility for leave. Furthermore, there is no stipulation barring employees from taking leave within a certain time frame prior to applying for FMLA; employees may have taken leave previously without affecting their eligibility.