Getting sandwiched between a growing family and aging parents is a challenge for all generations. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an employment law that allows employees to take job-protected, unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. This is important, because most of us are considered at-will employees. There are some criteria that need to be met for FMLA eligibility that impact many working in animal health.
Kat Boogaard explains the conditions, rules, exceptions and dynamics when family obligations override professional responsibilities.
Source: The Muse. Link. In order to take this unpaid leave, you must:
- Have been employed with your company for at least 12 months
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months (that’s about 104 hours per month, or a little over 24 hours per week) prior to the start of FMLA leave
- Work for an employer that has 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius of your worksite
INSIGHTS:
If there’s one thing you take from this information, make it this: As long as you meet all of the requirements, this is something to which you’re entitled, so ask for it if you need it.