Question about family medical leave

[angelwing]

I was wondering if anyone had to take it and if they did what happened with their job if they used up the full 12 weeks, did they still have a job?

Mary

[Hurricaneman]

Im not sure

[coriolis]

Your job is supposed to be protected. If that's impossible, they have to give you an equivalent one.

When my wife was pregnant with our second, she had lots of health problems. I used up all my sick leave and vacation time, and finally started on the FML without pay. It was a few days here, a week there - not all at once. My boss didn't like it, and while I was legal, I became his least favorite employee. I eventually left that job because it became so uncomfortable.

A lot of it depends on your employer and their attitude. My present employer would be much more understanding.

The law provides a lot of protection, but an employer can make it difficult if they want to. What they don't realize is that next time it could be them!

[GalvestonDuck]

I was wondering if anyone had to take it and if they did what happened with their job if they used up the full 12 weeks, did they still have a job?

Mary

Is it 6 weeks or 12?

I used it when my mom was dying and after she died (a full 6 weeks). Never had any problems with my employer. Then again, I worked for a great hospital, great ER, and wonderfully supportive team.

I think that's the point of FML -- a guarantee that you don't get penalized if you take an extended leave of absence. Of course, the "leave" hours that you take must be your sick leave, vacation, and personal time that you've accrued. At least, that how's it's been at both hospitals where I work. If you don't have enough paid time, you can still take the full 6 weeks (or maybe it is 12?) but you won't get paid for it. Your position should still be there and ready for you when you return.

[angelwing]

Here's my problem. My full-time day job I haven't been to the past 3 days because of the hubby. They just emailed me paperwork to get filled out that I have to have in by August 15. I think I have about 12 hours PTO left and I am the only coder/auditor on base for the medical clinic. (the other girl quit 3 weeks ago I could slug her, cleaning up her mess she left, bujt anyway..) While my hubby was aware, he asked me to stay home for the week (this was early Sunday). Well I haven't posted the latest update on him (I will in a little bit)let's just say that things are not what they were on Sunday and I just don't know what to do.....meanwhile the full-time night job emailed me to see if I could do OT! Any other time I would jump on it as it's at home, but I'm already working (well I was) 16 hours a day and now I don't know what's going to happen with Ed...I'm a contractor at the base and the contract is up in October, it's a 45 mile drive one way but the killer is my health coverage is with that job, sigh.
And our finances right now sux the big one, no bank account, no credit card, sigh, that's why I was trying to figure out what to do.

Just getting a feel for it here, I'm going to get the paperwork filled out in the meantime.

(To answer someone else its for 12 weeks)

[breeze]

It depends upon the state that you work in.

In Tennessee, your job CAN be protected, only if your
employer employs more than fifty people - otherwise,
you don't have a leg to stand on.

For your state, you need to a Google Search - type in
your state and "wage laws FMLA".

[angelwing]

They included that in the paperwork, so I know that at least.

[Pebbles]

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

Explains things in everyday terms... it is indeed 12 weeks and it can be broken into sections ...even hours at a time

[angelwing]

Thank you all, at least now I have an idea what to do.
Thank you again!

Mary

[MomH]

After I was in the hospital for 7 weeks, I had to take the rest of my 12 weeks to finish recovering. Luckily I worked at a college and I got an additional week during Xmas break that wasn't charged to that 12.

Remember, however, though they will continue to carry your insurance, you will probably have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Insurance was considered part of my pay and I had to pay it myself while I wasn't working.

[azskyman]

I wanted to echo MomH's comments. The leave is to protect you from these kinds of challenges...and give you and your employer the opportunity to work through it.

But some don't realize you then have to pay for any medical insurance or other programs you may be enrolled in out of your own pocket...

Don't want to add to your woes, but the positives still outnumber the negatives with FML.

[JenBayles]

I've had to use it numerous times for various surgeries, much to the discontent of my employer. The way our HR flying monkeys do it, they pile on so much paperwork to prove you really need it that the doctors balk at filling it all out. After one surgery, I needed several weeks of rehab/ physical therapy that would go maybe 30 to 40 minutes beyond my lunch hour. I had to bring a note for each and every visit in order to have it count on FMLA. Finally decided it wasn't worth it and just stayed late to make it up.

I've never had to use it due to a problem with a family member, but the same rules apply: the family member's doc has to fill out the 5 page government geek head redundant arse form.

Yeah, FMLA is designed to protect your job, but if your employer really wants to get rid of you, they'll find a way to do it.