Pioneer Educator

Experiencing personal health problems ranks near the top of the list of life’s stressors. But according to the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, a major change in the health of a family member isn’t far behind. Dealing with these medical issues, meanwhile, can cause complications for employees ( Pioneer Educator ). While employers generally offer workers some form of sick leave that they can use in case of their own illness, what can you do if a close family member is having health difficulties? This is the purpose behind the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law that was passed in 1993 to help employees balance their work responsibilities with family demands. Here are six things you need to know about this important legislation: The FMLA allows for 12 weeks of leave during a 12-month period – but the leave is unpaid.  Since this law requires employers to let their workers take time off to care for an ill family member, you might assume that the tim...

“ FMLA ”  refers to the Family and Medical Leave Act, which is a federal law that guarantees certain employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave each year with no threat of job loss.  FMLA  also requires that employers covered by the law maintain the health benefits for eligible workers just as if they were working. The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. With the complexity of the administration of FMLA, now is a good time to make sure your policies and forms are up to date. Below is a quick checklist to help make sure you are in compliance. Policies: •  Update your FMLA policy and any relevant personnel policies.  Take this opportunity to review and revise your FMLA Policy as well as other personnel policies and procedures (e.g., call-in procedures, leave policies, return to work...