The Family and Medical Leave Act has created much controversy since its creation in 1993 because of criticism that it favors women through pregnancy. To account for this, FLMA leave may be taken by husbands or domestic partners to spend time with new children. Contrary to what is commonly thought, an individual on FMLA leave is not unreachable by employment concerns. An FMLA layoff may even occur completely within the bounds of state and federal employment laws. Any employee on leave my still be released for any legal reasons other than the cause and the effect of the FMLA leave. The most common application of this is through a company's need to reduce size. If the employee on leave would have been released regardless of the leave, it is a legal layoff.