FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) was created to provide time off needed for families and those with medical issues. Problem is they made the eligibility requirements so narrow with wishy washy language allowing employers to pull BS with it. I know so many people who got denied FMLA due to vague language allowing HR room to deny it. This includes someone trying to use it for maternity leave which was what FMLA was originally created to cover!! Also, HR is infamous for screwing up fmla requests. HR didn't file it in time? Oh well, guess your going to be let go for medical reasons but at least that means you're rehirable!
FMLA Fed requirements
(employers can choose to replace with an even worse internal version)
-Have worked 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of leave; ( NOTE: hours WORKED not paid, so pto/paid holidays don't count towards 1250 hours)
-Work at a location where the employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles; and
-Have worked for the employer for 12 months.
What is with the 12 month requirement? Do new hires medical issues just magically stop for their first year at a new job? St Lukes Hospital chain only allows 5 call outs a year before writups and at 9 they fire you. No exceptions made for known medical issues and even if pto is used they still count against you if its not pre approved by management. Especially after covid you would think employers would loosen things up.
With the growing amount of remote work I have to wonder if employers are going to use the 50+ employees in 75 miles requirement to deny otherwise eligible employees.
FMLA in the US needs an overhaul to actually provide what it claims to offer. NPR found that most Americans can't get fmla when they need it and technically paternity leave isnt covered at all!
Going through different maternity leave subs you can find a distressing number of parents denied leave.
Rant over …. for now