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Playing doctor: What’s a ‘serious’ condition under FMLA?

07/01/2001
Since 1993, employees have been able to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their own “serious health condition” or to tend to a child, spouse or …

Urge Staff to Visit Doctor During Off-Duty Hours

07/01/2001

Q. We don’t usually require employees to provide documentation when they take time off for doctors’ appointments, but one worker has a pattern of scheduling these “appointments” on the Friday before holiday weekends. Can we request verification from the doctor’s office on a case-by-case basis? —J.B., Washington

Newborn’s Medical Problems May Warrant Shorter Hours

07/01/2001

Q. A long-standing employee recently took leave under the FMLA to give birth, but her twins have many medical complications. She exhausted her eligibility under our disability carrier and isn’t eligible for long-term disability because she’s not disabled. We want her back, but she can’t commit to even 20 hours a week. What are our obligations under the FMLA, and would this individual be entitled to unemployment compensation if we terminate her? —G.B., New York

Vacation policy could jeopardize at-Will rights

06/01/2001

Q. Under our written company policy, an employee who fails to give 20 working days’ notice before resigning forfeits any earned vacation days. Is this policy lawful? —C.R., Wisconsin

Maternity leave repayment may be discriminatory

06/01/2001

Q. Our maternity leave policy offers paid leave for female employees who plan to return to work after the birth of the child. If the employee quits before returning to work, she’s required to reimburse the company for the paid leave. Is this lawful? —A.C., Maryland

State may trump your CBA on family leave.

05/01/2001
Under Oscar Mayer’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), paid sick leave doesn’t start until at least the fourth day of absence. But Wisconsin’s labor department says that under the state’s family leave …

Employees don’t have to exhaust paid sick leave before taking FMLA

04/01/2001
Russell Strickland left work early because his diabetes acted up and affected his vision. Strickland claimed he told his manager and another employee why he was leaving. But the manager …

State Family Leave Law May Ban Moonlighting

04/01/2001

Q. We recently learned that an employee on FMLA leave is working for another company. Can we fire her? —D.G., Arizona

Employees must share duty in setting up accommodation

03/01/2001
Denise Davis missed a lot of work over more than five years due to maternity leaves and her Crohn’s disease. During this time, her employer continued to accommodate Davis by …

High court to decide whether health plans can recoup benefits

03/01/2001
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether health plans can sue to recover benefits from a person who also collects from another source. In the case, an insurance …