Employee leave abuse has gotten a lot of attention. The most common example is the employee who requests and gets approval for FMLA leave and the employer learns that s/he is really on a trip. That’s not surprising. You’re probably thinking, ” Isn’t that a no-brainer?”. The answer really depends on the specific facts. What happens if an employee requests leave to receive and recover from surgery and s/he spends part of that recovery period on vacation?
Leave Me Alone: Can You Contact (or Fire) Employees on FMLA Leave?
An employee goes out on FMLA leave. While the employee is on leave, the employer contacts her. Six days before the anticipated end of that leave the employer fires the employee. The employee sues, alleging FMLA interference. Who wins? In this case, the employer did. Let’s delve into some of the details to learn why […]
When Firing for Excessive Absences Can Lead to a Lawsuit…
You have a right to expect your employee to do his or her job. You have a right to expect him or her to show up to work (whether on your premises or via a remote location). Typically attendance is considered an essential job function. So, if your employee misses work too many times, wouldn’t […]
Can an Ineligible Employee Get FMLA Leave?
Wait is this a trick question or has the writer (yours truly) lost her marbles? (Are those options mutually exclusive?) An employee ineligible for FMLA leave, by definition can’t get FMLA leave, right? I mean the employee has to meet specific criteria, the reason for the leave must meet certain criteria. Heck, if the employer […]
Can You Eliminate a Position…After the Employee Returns from FMLA Leave?
If you have 50 or more employees, chances are, you’ve dealt with at least one employee taking and returning from FMLA leave. If you’ve weathered at least one recession or other financial ups and downs, you’ve probably had to downsize. What happens when both occur at the same time? What happens when you have an […]