FMLA: Second medical opinion is your option

  • December 17, 2012

The FMLA allows employers that don’t want to accept an employee’s medical certification to ask for (and pay for) a second opinion. If the two opinions...

Avoid FMLA suit: Cut slack for leave-takers

  • December 05, 2012

Employees who are so sick they need FMLA leave certainly can’t perform essential job functions while on leave. Employers must alter their workload expectations...

New hire requests FMLA? Beware retaliation

  • October 21, 2012

Is it protected activity that can’t be punished if an employee who is not yet eligible asks to take FMLA leave? Put another way, can an employer fire an employee...

OK to terminate, even after FMLA leave request

  • October 13, 2012

If you were going to terminate an employee before you learned she wanted FMLA leave, you still can. Just be sure you can document when and why the termination decision...

Get tough on vague, incomplete FMLA forms

  • August 29, 2012

Here’s good news for employers trying to manage FMLA leave and prevent abuse: If an employee’s FMLA certification form is incomplete or vague, you...

How to handle partial-day absences under FMLA

  • August 03, 2012

Sometimes, an employee needs just a few hours of FMLA leave to make a doctor’s appointment or to drive a relative to treatment. What if the employee wants to take...