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FMLA

What’s a ‘serious’ condition? Routine care doesn’t trigger FMLA protection

07/10/2015
The FMLA is supposed to protect employees from losing their jobs when they can’t work due to a serious health condition.

Here’s more proof that FMLA rules are clear as mud

07/07/2015
One definition of a “serious health condition” that would qualify an employee for FMLA leave is “any period of incapacity or treatment connected with inpatient care (i.e., an overnight stay) in a hospital.” But what counts as an overnight stay?

Hershey Med settles with fired cancer surgeon

06/29/2015
The Penn State Hershey Medical Center has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging that a cancer surgeon was fired in retaliation for defending the rights of his secretary, who was fighting breast cancer.

New FMLA forms address GINA safe harbor

06/29/2015
The U.S. Department of Labor has modified its FMLA forms to include employer safe harbor language required under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

You, not employee, choose ADA accommodation

06/26/2015
Yes, employers are supposed to engage in an interactive process to arrive at reasonable ADA accommodations. But that doesn’t mean everything the employee wants, the employee gets. It’s up to the employer to determine which accommodation is both reasonable and best suited to its business needs.

Does FMLA apply to same-sex spouses who don’t live in states that recognize same-sex marriage?

06/18/2015
Q. We have operations in South Dakota, and one of our employees there has requested FMLA leave to care for his same-sex spouse for an FMLA-qualified reason. The couple was married in Minnesota, but South Dakota does not recognize same-sex marriage. Should we grant the FMLA leave request?

Extra leave isn’t always ADA accommodation

06/16/2015
The FMLA and the ADA are supposed to work together so employees who need some time off for serious health conditions and disabilities don’t lose their jobs. Fortunately for employers, there are limits to leave—especially for jobs that require regular attendance.

Absent with no excuse? That’s willful misconduct

06/09/2015
Employees who are fired for willful misconduct aren’t eligible for unemployment compensation. Not following the employer’s call-off rules is willful misconduct and may bar benefits.

When employee has FMLA history, beware punishing for suddenly going home

06/09/2015
It’s almost always inconvenient to have an employee suddenly leave in the middle of a shift. But if the under­­lying reason is an FMLA-covered con­­dition and he gave you enough information to make you realize the time off might be covered by the FMLA, think twice before punishing the early departure.

After FMLA leave, watch timing of firing

06/09/2015
Generally, employees who take FMLA leave are only entitled to their job back if they are able to return to work right after their 12 weeks of time off expires. Imme­­di­­ately terminating the employee without a good reason may backfire, because it could be seen as retaliation for taking leave.