FMLA Articles

Are employers getting better at FMLA administration?

Date Posted: 04/19/2019

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), which enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), has indicated that in FY 2018, which ended September 30, 2018, it handled 1,011 FMLA cases, down from 1,165 the previous FY. Compared to the highest number of complaints, which was 3,795 in 1998, employers seem to be improving on their efforts to avoid FMLA issues.

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May an employer require employees to call two separate numbers to report absences?

Date Posted: 04/17/2019

Yes, and doing so might help curb FMLA leave abuse

Do you struggle with your FMLA administration? Do you wish employees would take FMLA leave more seriously? Do you suspect some employees are abusing FMLA leave? Adopting one fairly simple rule might help:

Require employees to make two separate calls to report an FMLA absence.

First, they must call their supervis...

Don’t be afraid to have and enforce call-in policies

Date Posted: 04/11/2019

Communicate policies well

Employees have many rights under the FMLA, but employers have some, as well. One of them is the right to have and enforce call-in policies. The related FMLA regulations indicate the following:

“An employer may require an employee to comply with the employer’s usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leav...