Don't Delay: DOL Issues New Opinion Letter On FMLA Leave

On March 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter, FMLA 2019-1-A, addressing compliance issues under the Family and Medical leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA provides eligible employees with up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for certain family and medical reasons or to address certain qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee's spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty). The FMLA also permits eligible employees to take up to 26 weeks of leave to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness. At the conclusion of the leave, subject to some exceptions, an employee generally has the right to return to the same or to an equivalent position.