FMLA Question

[130munch]

FMLA states one of it's purposes is to allow an employee unpaid time off "to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition".


If you have exhaused all your time off and need to start taking unpaid time off when your child is sick with the flu for a day, or if the school calls and requests you pick your child up because they have a fever, does this portion of FMLA protect your job? Or is FMLS strictly reserved for serious illnesses?

 

[jacksgal]

This might help

http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/index.htm

 

[130munch]

Thanks. I have looked at that site, but it's still unclear to me because they state "serious health illness" and do not mention minor illnesses that require a day or even a 1/2 day off to care for a sick child.

 

[jacksgal]

A cold or flu would not meet "serious illness" criteria. Otherwise everyone would use it. However wait for cbg to answer she is best qualified (in my view) to answer this

 

[cbg]

Minor illnesses are specifically excluded from FMLA. If it does not meet the definition of a "serious health condition" in the statute, FMLA does not apply.

 

[130munch]

Thanks! That's all I wanted to know.