Top Ten FMLA Leave Mistakes

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees for specified family and medical reasons, also providing them with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if they had not taken leave. Although schools (regardless of size) are required to comply with the notice-and-posting requirements of the FMLA, you need only provide job-protected FMLA leave if the employer is covered by the Act and the employee meets the eligibility requirements.   

FMLA leave applies if an employee works at a worksite where at least 50 employees are employed within 75 miles, was employed for 12 months (which need not be consecutive), and worked 1,250 hours in the 12 months preceding the start of the leave. Once you determine that you are covered, you should be aware of these pitfalls which can result in compliance failures.