The FMLA or Family and Medical Leave Act allow the workers to take a few hours or some days’ leave to take care of their own health or the well being of their loved ones. While taking the leave under FMLA they need not worry about keeping their jobs. Any worker working in the company of 50 or more than 50 employees can take the FMLA leave after serving in the job for 12 months or 1250 hours. An employee can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave every year and can take leave for birth and care of newborn baby, take care of family members with a serious health condition, or care of own self because of serious health conditions.
There are mostly three types of FMLA leave: Intermittent FMLA leave, Continuous FMLA leave, and reduced schedule FMLA leave.
- Continuous FMLA Leave: This type of leave is taken up by employees for a continuous period of time. Such leave is not broken up by a period of work and is continuous when the employee is absent for three consecutive working days or more. He can take the leave for an immediate family member or own self for serious health issues.
- Intermittent FMLA Leave: it is the more flexible way of taking leave. In such type of leave, the employee can take leave for a few hours or a few days. Like if the employee is suffering from migraine then he can take leave for a few hours during the excessive pain period. He can also use intermittent leave to attend a doctor’s appointment for a few hours. The intermittent leave allows the employee to take short leaves without going for long breaks.
- Reduced schedule FMLA Leave: An employee can take such leave to take care of the family member, take care of their own serious health problem or to reduce stress. The reduced schedule FMLA leave allows the employees to reduce the number of hours worked per day or per week so that they can take care of themselves or their loved ones in their spare hours. The employer counts the hours or works reduced towards the 12-week allowance given under the FMLA leave. It is necessary for the employee to inform his employer regarding the need for leave.
During the 12-weeks of FMLA leave, the employer is under obligation to pay group health insurance benefits to his employee on leave. But if the employee’s 12-week FMLA leave expires then he cannot avail such benefit during further leaves. Therefore it is important for the employees to pay attention to their leave period and when shall it expire.
Conclusion
Depending upon his or her physical health and the family member’s condition an employee can avail of the facility of FMLA leave. The terms of the leave are flexible and designed to provide maximum benefit to the employees. Availing FMLA leave allows the employee to take care of the health of their loved ones and also self and also retain the job and the position at the same time.
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