What if I need more than 12 weeks of FMLA?

When You Can Extend FMLA Beyond 12 Weeks If you need FMLA for slightly longer than 12 weeks, employers can usually provide a few days to a week of extra time. Allowing an employee to take an extra month or longer, however, could be argued as an undue hardship.

What happens when you exhausted your FMLA benefits?

When employees exhaust their leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), they may want to return to work or take additional leave. Many employers do require a return-to-work certification to confirm that the employee’s physician has released the employee to return to work, Devitt said.

What happens when you run out of FMLA?

Basically, as long as you return to a job as good as the job you’d held before taking leave, your employer has complied with the FMLA. Once those twelve weeks are used up, the employee is no longer protected by FMLA and may be terminated for absenteeism if he or she misses work, even for health-related reasons.

How long can you use FMLA leave for pregnancy?

Under the regulations, a mother can use 12 weeks of FMLA leave for the birth of a child, for prenatal care and incapacity related to pregnancy, and for her own serious health condition following the birth of a child.

Can I use intermittent FMLA for late arrival or absences?

You cannot be penalized if you use intermittent FMLA for these absences. However, this time away from work will be included in the total 12 weeks of leave. Again, I recommend checking with your human resources department about your employer’s specific policies around pregnancy-related late arrivals or absences.

How long can you take unpaid leave under the FMLA?

Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the FMLA to care for themselves or a sick relative, and employers must reinstate workers to the same or an equivalent job when they return to work.

When to take family medical leave for pregnancy or parenting?

Taking Family Medical Leave for Pregnancy or Parenting. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that gives certain employees the right to take up to 12 weeks off work per year for specified health and caregiving reasons, including pregnancy disability and caring for a new child. FMLA leave is unpaid,…