Now more than ever, employers and HR professionals can’t afford a mistake when managing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

If you don’t comply with the new regulations, you’re now guilty of “interfering” with another person’s FMLA rights – and that’s a class action suit waiting to happen.

How well do you understand the new legal complexities? Test your FMLA expertise with these questions:

• Which of these people are covered by the FMLA?

a) The spouse of a regular armed forces member.

 b) The child of an employee who has just received notice of active duty.

c) The parent of a member of the National Guard.

d) All of the above.

• Under the new regs, what should your reaction be when an employee wants to discuss FMLA?

• What now qualifies as “sufficient” notice of their FMLA rights?

• How long an absence is too long when a missing employee reappears and claims FMLA protection?

• What has changed in determining FMLA eligibility?

• Will “Tweeting” the rights and responsibilities notice stand up in court?

• What should you do if the employee’s “documentation” is gibberish?

The good news: You can get answers to these questions and MORE in our new half-day interactive webinar, FMLA Advanced Training. You’ll master FMLA paperwork like a pro … thwart employees who “game” the FMLA system … and confidently handle any FMLA question employees throw at you.

Best of all, you’ll be learning from the attorney who literally wrote the book on FMLA compliance, Matthew Effland, Esq. As a free bonus for attending, you’ll receive a copy of his newly updated book, The FMLA Compliance Guide: Practical Advice on Managing Family and Medical Leave.

Our promise: By the end of this seminar, you will feel MUCH more comfortable applying the revised and expanded FMLA in your workplace. Specifically, you’ll learn:

• The 10 key FMLA changes in 2009: Your new rights and responsibilities. The dramatic new rules transform the way you must administer the law. You face new eligibility, notice and verification requirements. Both employers and employees must do things differently in 2009. The result: a more paperwork-intensive FMLA … with many more traps for the unaware. We’ll explain how you can set up a bullet-proof FMLA administration that complies with these new rules.

• Important new FMLA court decisions. The FMLA is not a static law. Court decisions constantly reshape your compliance requirements. Discover the past year’s most important new cases.

• Common FMLA FAQs. What’s the difference between “medical” leave and “family” leave? Does workers’ comp leave count against FMLA? When’s it legal to fire employees on FMLA? Does “a single 12-month period” differ from a year in FMLA-ese?  Learn the answers to these and other frequently asked questions.

• The new military leave requirements. Can an employee whose husband is in Iraq take FMLA leave to attend a parent-teacher meeting? Can an employee really receive 38 weeks of job-protected leave in a single year? We’ll answer these and other questions about the Active Duty Leave and Caregiver Leave rules.

• Real-world scenarios. With each training module, Mr. Effland and co-presenter Bonnie Martin will test your understanding of the law and new changes by applying what you’ve learned to real-world situations. The interactive webinar will include instant polls of the audience and expert feedback.

• Solutions to your FMLA problems. Mr. Effland is an expert on FMLA law. He will provide concrete, practical answers to your FMLA questions.

This comprehensive session focuses not only the new requirements of the FMLA, but how those requirements work with the law that’s been an administrative nightmare for more than 15 years. You’ll learn how to administer and apply the FMLA in the face of regulatory updates, statutory changes and new court rulings. 

For most of your career, complying with the FMLA was complex, but at least the law stayed the same. This year, that’s all changed. Don’t get caught off-guard with your boss asking, “Why didn’t we know about that?”  Register for FMLA Advanced Training: How to Comply With the New FMLA.

Sincerely,



Pat DiDomenico
Editorial Director, HR Specialist