What is FMLA?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees up to twelve weeks of job-protected leave and benefit continuation per year when a serious health condition of an employee or family member causes missed time from work.
FMLA is an unpaid benefit. Paid time off, Vacation, Sick, Extended Sick and Workers’ Compensation may be paid concurrently during a leave pursuant to FMLA depending on the circumstances.
Who is eligible to be covered under FMLA?
FMLA applies to all employees with at least one year of service who have worked at least 1,250 hours in the previous twelve months.
When can it be requested?
FMLA may be requested for:
- An employee’s serious health condition
- A family member’s serious health condition
- Birth, pregnancy, adoption or placement of a child in foster care
- Serious injury or illness of a current service member (Military Family leave).
- Employees may take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.
What is a serious health condition?
- Conditions requiring an overnight stay in a hospital or other medical care facility
- Conditions that incapacitate an employee or family member for more than three consecutive days and require ongoing medical treatment (either multiple appointments with a health care provider, or a single appointment and follow-up care)
- Chronic conditions that cause occasional periods when an employee or family member are incapacitated and require treatment by a health care provider at least twice a year
- Pregnancy (including prenatal medical appointments and other medical needs)
What does FMLA cover?
- Employees who can return to work prior to exhausting FMLA leave must be returned to the same job (or one nearly identical to it).
- When reasonable, 30 days’ advance notice of medical appointments must be provided.
- Time away from work can be taken as either a single block of time or in multiple, smaller blocks of time or part time if medically necessary.
- Time away for multiple medical treatments must be scheduled at a time that minimizes disruption to the department.
What benefits are covered during an approved FMLA leave?
- Benefit coverage under any group health, dental and vision plan
- During an unpaid FMLA covered Leave of Absence, if the employee chooses to retain benefit coverage, they are responsible for paying their portion of the benefit premium. The University contributions will continue while covered under FMLA.
- An employee may choose not to retain group health plan coverage during an FMLA leave; however, when an employee returns from leave, the employee is entitled to be reinstated on the same terms as prior to taking the leave, including family or dependent coverages
- For non-FMLA unpaid leaves, if the employee chooses to retain benefit coverage, they are responsible for paying their portion and the University’s portion of the benefit premium. Contact the Benefits Office for more information.
