Family and Medical Leave

Legislation introduced to expand FMLA coverage in PA

June 29, 2011 | by Eric B. Meyer

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law, entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take up to twelve workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for:

the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;

the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;

to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition; and

a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Last week, House Bill No. 1713, otherwise known as the Pennsylvania Family and Medical Leave Act, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Labor and Industry.

How might this bill impact Pennsylvania’s already FMLA-qualifying employers? Find out after jump.

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Before taking medical leave in Cancun, read this…

May 23, 2011 | by Eric B. Meyer

Can a company create and enforce a policy that requires employees on paid sick leave to remain close to their homes, unless they obtain the company’s permission?

Would that policy infringe on an employee’s FMLA rights?

Good questions.

The answers are after the jump.

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New bill would greatly expand the scope and reach of the FMLA

April 21, 2011 | by Eric B. Meyer

Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY14] recently introduced H.R. 1440: Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2011 (FMLEA) in the House of Representatives.

What is this new bill? And what will it mean for new employers if it passes? (Hint: It may have something to do with the picture on the left)

All the details, after the jump.

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Your frequent contact with employees on FMLA may violate the law

March 21, 2011 | by Eric B. Meyer

“The Employer Handbook rules, dad!”

Last month, my wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Ivy Lynn Meyer. So it only seems fitting that a post should follow involving the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Imagine having an employee who needs time off for surgery. She completes the requisite paperwork and is approved for FMLA leave. During her FMLA leave, the employee’s supervisor contacts her weekly to inquire when she will be returning to work.

How many of you think this may be a problem if the supervisor making the call doesn’t know what she is doing? Me too. I’ll show you why after the jump.

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Your employees are using more FMLA

February 3, 2011 | by Eric B. Meyer

According to FMLASource, employee requests for Family and Medical Leave Act leave rose over 10% in 2010. The top reasons for FMLA absences:

1. personal illness/injury,

2. caring for a child, and

3. caring for an elderly relative

With a rise in claims coupled with recent amendments to the FMLA, now is a good time to make sure that your business has a strong, written FMLA policy and is otherwise prepared to address employee requests for FMLA leave in 2011.

FMLA: Calculate holiday leave correctly

November 25, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

FMLA Insights has a very timely post about how to calculate FMLA leave around the holidays.

I’ll summarize it for you after the jump.
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Third Circuit Employment Law 101: Who Does The FMLA Cover?

September 7, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

My blog designers told me that if I want to build SEO — that’s Search Engine Optimization to you rookies — I’d better write about employment law issues affecting Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware (duh!) and “optimize” my blog post titles with the keywords near the front.

Learn more about which employees are covered after the jump.
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