Navigating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as an Employer

Introduction

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that requires employers to provide employees with job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. As an employer, it’s important to understand your obligations and responsibilities under FMLA. In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of FMLA and how you can navigate it as an employer.

Understanding FMLA

FMLA requires covered employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for the following reasons:

  • Birth and care of a newborn child
  • Placement of a child for adoption or foster care
  • Care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition
  • Medical leave for the employee’s own serious health condition

Eligibility for FMLA

To be eligible for FMLA, an employee must meet the following requirements:

  • Have worked for the employer for at least 12 months
  • Have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months
  • Work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles

Employer Obligations Under FMLA

As an employer, you have several obligations under FMLA, including:

  • Providing eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year
  • Continuing the employee’s health insurance coverage during the leave
  • Restoring the employee to their previous or an equivalent position upon their return from leave
  • Providing notice to employees of their FMLA rights and responsibilities

Navigating FMLA

Navigating FMLA can be complex and time-consuming for employers. To navigate FMLA successfully, you should:

  • Understand your obligations and responsibilities under FMLA
  • Develop clear policies and procedures for FMLA requests and leave
  • Train managers and supervisors on how to handle FMLA requests and leave
  • Ensure compliance with recordkeeping and notice requirements

Conclusion

FMLA can be challenging for employers to navigate, but understanding your obligations and responsibilities is essential for compliance. By developing clear policies and procedures and training your managers and supervisors, you can ensure compliance with FMLA and provide your employees with the leave they need for qualified medical and family reasons.

Request a Quote Today

Ready to learn more about your obligations under FMLA as an employer in Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Northwest? Request a quote today by calling our office at 541-447-6372 or reaching out to us on social media. We’re here to help you find the right coverage for your employee benefits needs.

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