Intermittent FMLA Leave Is So Easy To Administer. Yeah, Right!

Block FMLA leave has its own challenges. But intermittent FMLA leave can be downright painful – including the fact that intermittent leave claims are the most common type of lawsuit under the FMLA.

When employees need to take scheduled time off for an entire day, week, or even month, an employer has more notice and ability to find ways to make sure the employee's work is still being done. However, when employees get valid certification for intermittent leave, the employer often will have no idea when the need for leave will arise or even how much time in a given day an employee may be out.

The following are some practical guidelines for dealing with these tricky situations:

• Keep track of FMLA usage for all employees, including those on intermittent leave. Tracking such leave is not always easy, but doing so consistently and in an organized way will ensure that employees do not use more time than allowed. You should always require employees who are