HR experts, regarding FMLA

[Allons-y!]

Most companies I have worked for require employees to use any leave you have, including vacation, before taking unpaid medical leave, regardless of whether it qualifies for FMLA or not.

 

[smokeyblue]

Most companies I have worked for require employees to use any leave you have, including vacation, before taking unpaid medical leave, regardless of whether it qualifies for FMLA or not.

Maybe OP's company allows employee's to retain a certain number of hours if they are on leave. We used to have a policy like that, but they got rid of it a few years ago.

 

[Allons-y!]

Maybe OP's company allows employee's to retain a certain number of hours if they are on leave. We used to have a policy like that, but they got rid of it a few years ago.

I'm not saying that all do. Just that most I've worked for had that policy. I still get the feeling that the OP doesn't quite understand how FMLA works, though.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I'm not saying that all do. Just that most I've worked for had that policy. I still get the feeling that the OP doesn't quite understand how FMLA works, though.

I do. Believe me. Been out two different times for at least 6 weeks . The company is General Electric. Once for maternity leave and once with my 14-year-old daughter who had major back surgery. And then once for three days with my youngest one. I have had ample experience with it before. Just not sure about this condition just yet.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I will add my nose area is looking real bad and the meds are tending to make me nausea. But I hope these antibiotics will take care if it. I'm kinda nervous.

When I find out whether it will cover it or not from my employer I'll let y'all know.

 

[DebbieB]

Most companies I have worked for require employees to use any leave you have, including vacation, before taking unpaid medical leave, regardless of whether it qualifies for FMLA or not.

That's the way it is at my company too. You have to take earned PTO first.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/fmla-faqs.htm

(Q) What is a serious health condition?

The most common serious health conditions that qualify for FMLA leave are:

• conditions requiring an overnight stay in a hospital or other medical care facility;
• conditions that incapacitate you or your family member (for example, unable to work or attend school) for more than three consecutive days and have ongoing medical treatment (either multiple appointments with a health care provider, or a single appointment and follow-up care such as prescription medication);
• chronic conditions that cause occasional periods when you or your family member are incapacitated and require treatment by a health care provider at least twice a year; and
• pregnancy (including prenatal medical appointments, incapacity due to morning sickness, and medically required bed rest).

 

[LiveYourLife]

Actually I'm surprised the OP's employer will let her come to work with a staph infection. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't staph infections highly contagious?

In any case, I hope you feel better OP. Try eating some yogurt about 20 minutes before you have to take your antibiotics (as long as you can have dairy while on them). I found that helps a bunch with the nausea.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Actually I'm surprised the OP's employer will let her come to work with a staph infection. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't staph infections highly contagious?

In any case, I hope you feel better OP. Try eating some yogurt about 20 minutes before you have to take your antibiotics (as long as you can have dairy while on them). I found that helps a bunch with the nausea.

Well I am going to talk with them in the morning. And believe me, my co-workers do not want me to return right now.

I will add that in the past, any vacation time I had was not forced to be used first, but things might have changed with them now. We will see.

 

[bittybabygrower]

Where I work, yes this would be covered under FMLA as long as I am out over 3 days. I have to use sick time first, then vacation to cover it. Once I exhaust any payable hours I have then it goes unpaid.

We get points for every hour we are out sick, after so many points you get fired. FMLA doesn't count towards those points, so we do file if we can.

Check with your HR department.

 

[kaytieeldr]

.

 

[wvjules]

OP, if you have all the answers (or at least think you do) and aren't listening to anything anyone on here has said, why even bother asking the question?

 

[mousefanmichelle]

How about short term disability instead of FMLA? For us though, if we are going to be out longer than a week we have to use up our PTO then we can go on short term disability and get 60% of our pay. I would never use FMLA for something like this - cancer or a surgery or a sick spouse, child, parent, yes, but never for something like a short term illness (less than 1 week or so).

 

[Hrhpd]

No absenteeism is absolutely not a problem what so ever. But if I can save my three vacation days I have left and use FMLA I will.

It may not be now, but if an employee continues to manipulate FMLA for short absences to save PTO days for even more days off, it could very well be noticed in the future if cuts need to be made, bonus time or consideration for advancement.

 

[Hrhpd]

I am just wondering if this infection would qualify or not. If it will, I will take the FMLA, no doubt. But it may very well not.

Sounds like a question for your HR dept.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

It may not be now, but if an employee continues to manipulate FMLA for short absences to save PTO days for even more days off, it could very well be noticed in the future if cuts need to be made, bonus time or consideration for advancement.

Or something major happens and don't have enough FMLA to protect job.

 

[morgan98]

Anyway, I could be wrong, but I have supervised enough people to know that FMLA is not something you usually start due to a short 3-5 day illness. Generally, a single condition is what causes someone to start the FLMA clock running. (the 12 weeks in one year). It can be used intermittently, but for that one condition. For example, say you are under treatment for cancer. You may need to take one week off around each of your chemo treatments. That is how I think of FMLA. Or you use the whole thing at one for maternity leave. I always think of it in terms of the job protection, so I think that *I* would only look to use it in the case of a several medical condition for either myself or my immediate family.

I do not think of using FMLA for a few days for the flu, then a few days for an infection, then a couple of days for a sore throat. I am probably not explaining myself clearly though.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Well for all the haters out there, the FMLA was approved. Now will the moderators please close this thread.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Well for all the haters out there, the FMLA was approved. Now will the moderators please close this thread.

What haters?

 

[Allison]

Haters? It was a discussion. Nothing else.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nice.