What is FMLA?

1
What is FMLA?

• The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) makes
  available to eligible employees up to 12 weeks of
  job-protected leave each year for FMLA-qualifying
  events.

2
Who is Eligible?

• To be eligible for FMLA leave, employees must
  have been employed by SURA for at least 12 months
  and for at least 1250 hours of work during the
  12-month period immediately preceding the leave.
• Spouses who are both JLab employees are limited
  to a combined total of 12 weeks of leave due to
  the birth or placement of a child.

3
What are FMLA-qualifying events?

1. The birth of an employees child and to care for
   the newborn child
2. The placement of a child with the employee for
   adoption or foster care
3. When the employee is needed to care for a child,
   spouse or parent who has a serious health
   condition
4. When the employee is unable to perform the
   functions of his/her job due to a serious health
   condition

4
What Does FMLA do for me?

• Your job is protected when you are absent from
  work on FMLA leave. That means that no negative
  employment actions (e.g., warning, suspension,
  termination) will be taken against you because of
  such absences.
• FMLA does not protect you from disciplinary
  action for performance or conduct not related to
  your FMLA absences.

5
What if I dont want to use FMLA?

• You do not have a choice as to whether or not
  to use FMLA. This is for your benefit as well as
  the Labs. If the reason for your absence meets
  the FMLA qualification requirements, your leave
  will be FMLA-protected.

6
Is FMLA leave paid or unpaid?

• While FMLA leave is unpaid by definition, the
  Lab allows employees to continue pay by using
  Short-Term Disability and/or accrued sick and/or
  vacation leave during FMLA absences.
• Unless you are receiving Short-Term Disability
  benefits, all paid leave must be used prior to
  going on Leave Without Pay.

7
What do I do if I think I am entitled to FMLA
leave?

• Advise your supervisor and Occupational Health
  Safety (OHS) or Human Resources, and complete a
  FMLA Request Form, available on the OHS and
  Benefits websites.
• Whenever possible, the designation of leave as
  FMLA leave should be made up front before the
  leave begins.
• If the request appears to be within FMLA
  guidelines for qualifying events, OHS will
  provide a case number and provisional approval
  within 48 hours of receipt of the request.

8
What if I have to take a few hours off each week
for doctors visits related to a FMLA-approved
situation?

• FMLA allows for intermittent leave i.e.,
  absences of .3 of an hour or more for doctors
  visits, etc.
• FMLA also allows for a reduced work schedule if
  necessitated by a FMLA-qualifying condition.
• Absences due to intermittent FMLA leave or a
  reduced work schedule will be tracked along with
  other FMLA leave.

9
What are my FMLA responsibilities as a supervisor?

• Ensure that OHS or Human Resources is advised
  and a FMLA Request Form is completed when
• An employee requests leave
• An employee is out on sick leave for 3 days or
  more for a serious illness
• An employee requests intermittent leave or a
  reduced/altered work schedule for any of the
  reasons covered by FMLA.
• Review the timesheet of an employee on FMLA leave
  for accuracy.

10
Who approves FMLA leave? Who tracks FMLA leave?

• Based on the documentation provided by the
  employees medical professional on the
  Certification of Health form (sent to the
  employee by certified mail), Occupational Health
  Safety will make a final determination whether
  leave is FMLA-qualifying.
• OHS and Human Resources track FMLA leave and
  will use the information entered into the Labs
  time reporting system for tracking after system
  implementation.

11
How do I know if my absence was approved for FMLA
when I fill out my timesheet?

• If you have entered FMLA leave on your timesheet
  and your leave is subsequently not approved as
  FMLA, you will need to go back into the time
  reporting system and correct your timesheet.
• If you did not enter FMLA leave on your timesheet
  and your leave is subsequently approved as FMLA,
  you will also need to go back into the time
  reporting system and correct your timesheet.

12
Contact Information for Questions About FMLA

• Occupational Health and Safety (Medical Services)
• --Heather Singleton, x6021, heathers_at_jlab.org
• --Johnie Banks, x7539, jbanks_at_jlab.org
• Benefits Office
• --Doug Roeder, x7576, roeder_at_jlab.org
• --Kisha Owens, x7068, owens_at_jlab.org
• --Mary Eaton, x7291, eatonm_at_jlab.org
• Employee Relations Manager
• --Pat Morton, x7232, pmorton_at_jlab.org