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The Employer Handbook BlogDOL Revives Its “Amnesty” Program to Help Employers Dodge Wage Disputes
It’s one of the few government programs that rewards employers for doing the right thing before getting sued. Continue reading
Articles Posted in Family and Medical Leave
Questionable Absences, Point-Based Discipline, and a Hard FMLA Lesson
A transit agency thought it had a clear-cut reason to fire an employee under its no-fault attendance policy. But a disputed call-out, followed by a retroactive FMLA approval, now means a jury gets to decide whether the termination was lawful. Continue reading
The FMLA Trap You May Be Walking Into—Even When Fraud Seems Obvious
“He filled out the doctor’s section himself.” Sounds like fraud, right? Maybe. But if you fire someone on that hunch without following the FMLA’s rules, you could be the one in legal trouble. Continue reading
A Half-Hour Absence. Seven Years of FMLA Fallout.
She left work early during her pregnancy—with her supervisor’s okay. Seven years later, the court said she may have had every legal right to do so. Continue reading
The DOL Just Relaunched Opinion Letters—Here’s Why That Matters for Employers
On Monday, June 2, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the relaunch and expansion of its opinion letter program. This move reinstates a valuable compliance tool for employers, particularly those navigating complex wage-and-hour for Family and Medical Leave Act regulations. Continue reading
Two employees. One marriage. Half the leave? A new bill would change that.
If two employees are married and work for the same company, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) lets their employer cap their combined leave at 12 weeks. A new bill in Congress proposes to eliminate that restriction. Continue reading
There’s a new BIPARTISAN Paid Leave Proposal in Congress. Here’s What Employers Need to Know About It.
A pair of lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle just dropped one of the most ambitious paid leave proposals in years. It won’t create a national mandate—but it could reshape the paid leave landscape for employers across the country. Continue reading
Deviation, Documentation, and the Door: When Honest Belief Meets FMLA Misuse
When employees stretch their FMLA leave beyond what’s certified, courts look closely at how employers respond. A recent case shows how solid documentation and a clear-eyed review of the facts can support a defensible termination.
FMLA: When ‘Leave’ Means ‘Stop Calling Me!’
A recent court decision serves as a stark reminder for employers: When employees take Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, they should not be pressured to work or penalized for their absence. Continue reading
Beyond the Doctor’s Note: Tools for Validating FMLA Requests
Suppose an employer learns that an employee who claimed a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) faked his injury to take time off for personal business. What steps can the employer take without violating the FMLA? Continue reading