Consistent attendance is a key component of job performance. Employers need to be able to rely on their workers to show up when scheduled for their jobs. Many professionals pride themselves on consistent attendance.
Unfortunately, sometimes personal circumstances interfere with people’s best intentions. There are certain scenarios in which professionals may need to take an extended leave of absence. In some cases, they may qualify for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). They could potentially take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year without risking their position if they qualify.
When do workers have the option of taking FMLA leave?
When the company is large enough
Allowing one of five employees to take extended leave could cause significant hardship for a small business. As such, the FMLA typically only applies to businesses that have at least 50 employees.
When they have adequate work history
Professionals generally need to have maintained their positions for at least a year for the FMLA to apply. They also need to have worked at least 1,250 hours in the last 12 months.
When they have qualifying circumstances
FMLA leave is usually only available to those in one of three qualifying conditions. People can take leave to undergo medical treatment or recover from an injury. They can take leave to support a family member dealing with a medical emergency. The final qualifying scenario is when people add children to their families.
Learning more about the FMLA and responding appropriately to denied leave requests or retaliatory actions by employers can protect workers who value their careers. The right to take unpaid leave is a critical employment protection that workers need to understand to properly utilize.