Leave

Have solid reason before firing employee on FMLA leave

10/27/2009

Employers can terminate employees who are on FMLA leave if the employers are sure they can later prove to a jury that they would have made the decision to terminate whether the employee took leave or not. That’s a tough burden, so you must make sure you have a solid reason—and you must document it.

Beware disciplining employees for FMLA-related tardiness

10/26/2009

Employees eligible for intermittent FMLA leave are entitled to take that leave at the beginning of their scheduled shifts if they need to. While that may make them late for work, you can’t punish that tardiness, as long as the employee follows your call-in policies and the underlying reason for being late is related to intermittent FMLA leave.

Don’t guess on need for FMLA leave! Insist employees follow usual notification procedures

10/15/2009

Employees sometimes think that just calling in sick is enough to put their employers on notice that they need FMLA leave. That’s simply not the case. In the following case, the 8th Circuit concluded the new language in the FMLA means employers aren’t obligated to guess about an employee’s need for FMLA leave based on behavior.

Include family caregivers in anti-discrimination policies

10/09/2009

Family responsibility discrimination (FRD)—discrimination against employees because of their family caregiving duties—has become a hotbed for litigation against employers, and every indication is that this trend will continue. So it’s critical for employers to recognize the potential for liability and take necessary steps to avoid being the next defendant.

You can’t demand exact day for FMLA treatment

10/09/2009

Employees who suffer from chronic conditions may have to see their doctors regularly. Under the FMLA, if those employees give you 30 days’ notice, they’re allowed to pick the day for their appointment. You can’t simply argue that they don’t need to take off that particular day because there is no emergency or urgency.

Don’t consider FMLA leave when tallying employee’s ‘excessive’ absences

10/05/2009

You’re asking for trouble if you consider FMLA leave-related absences a negative factor when making employment decisions. Courts view such decisions as direct evidence of retaliation—which makes it almost impossible for the employer to win a lawsuit.

What happens if employees don’t give adequate notice of FMLA leave?

10/05/2009

Q. What rights does an employer have if an employee fails to give timely notice of FMLA leave?

How much notice are employees required to give when they need FMLA leave?

10/02/2009

Q. Can our employee take FMLA leave without first giving us notice that she needs leave?

UPS picks up EEOC ADA lawsuit

10/01/2009

The EEOC has filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against UPS in federal court in Chicago. The suit alleges the package delivery giant consistently refuses to allow disabled workers to take extended medical leave as a reasonable accommodation. The EEOC filing seeks to make the suit a class action.

Must we grant leave for employees to attend meetings at their kids’ schools?

09/29/2009

Q. Are we obligated to provide paid leave so one of our employees can attend a mandatory school meeting concerning his child?