FMLA

Supreme Court outlook: All quiet on employment-law front

10/01/2002

In its 2001-02 term, which ended in June, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a whirlwind of employment-law decisions. But as the high court plans to open its 2002-03 term …

Labor Department offers Spanish-language FMLA poster

10/01/2002

Covered employers are required to post a “Your Rights Under the FMLA” poster and are expected to communicate the basics about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to employees who …

Military service counts toward FMLA eligibility

09/01/2002

Ordinarily, workers are eligible for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) after working for at least 12 months at a company and clocking at least 1,250 hours …

High court: Weingarten rights stand; state family leave case on docket

08/01/2002

It’s official: Employees have the right, even in nonunion workplaces, to bring a co-worker as a witness to an investigative meeting that could result in discipline. Nonunion employees won …

Employees can use vacation time toward one-year FMLA eligibility

07/01/2002

Robert Ruder began working in management at a Maine hospital on Jan. 5, 2000. Exactly one year later, he left work for unspecified medical reasons. His employer denied his request for …

You’re free to adjust benefit plan without fear of FMLA suit

07/01/2002

When it merged with another bank, Wells Fargo replaced its traditional employee sick- and vacation-leave policy with a paid-time-off (PTO) program and a short-term disability plan. A PTO policy combines annual …

Give employees fair shot to verify leave

06/01/2002

Alex Jiminez frequently missed work due to flare-ups of Crohn’s disease. His employer’s absentee policy required progressive warnings and eventual management review after 80 hours of absences. The company reminded …

Warn supervisors: They can be held personally liable in FMLA cases

06/01/2002

Could your supervisors and managers be held personally liable when they wrongly interpret the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? In many courts, the answer is yes. Recent case: Susan …

‘Emotional caregivers’ win FMLA coverage

05/01/2002

Truck driver Joseph Scamihorn Jr. saw his 73-year-old father fall into a deep depression soon after his daughter, Joseph’s sister, was murdered. After notifying his employer, Scamihorn left his job for …

FMLA recordkeeping hassles costing businesses big bucks