On July 16th, the Department of Labor (DOL) updated Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms which employers may use to administer FMLA leaves within their organizations. The FMLA does not require the use of any specific form or format but using the forms can simplify leave administration and facilitate compliance for employers.
In the press release, the DOL announced that the forms collect the same information but are “simpler and easier to understand for employers, leave administrators, healthcare providers, and employees seeking leave.” Among the changes announced are boxes that can be checked instead of requiring written responses and electronic signature features. As the DOL stated, “[t]he changes reduce the amount of time it takes a healthcare provider to provide information, and help leave administrators review and communicate information to employees more directly and with greater clarity, reducing the likelihood of violations.”
The DOL also updated its guidance related to FMLA leave related to COVID-19. The two updates are:
- Telemedicine visits are considered in-person visits for purposes of establishing a serious health condition (Guidance, Question #12)
- Employers may require an employee returning from FMLA to get a COVID-19 test as long as all employees returning to the office are also required to get a test (Guidance, Question #13)
Note: The FMLA covers employers with 50 or more employees for at least the past 20 weeks. It also applies to public agencies, regardless of the number of employees, and to elementary and secondary schools, both public and private. The federal FMLA only applies to employees who have worked for a covered employer for a minimum of 12 months, although these 12 months do not need to be consecutive. Additionally, the employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours for the employer during the previous 12 months at a site where the employer has 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius. See the differences between federal and WI FMLA here. If you are unsure if you are an FMLA covered employer, please contact us as noted below.
Lake Effect is here to answer your FMLA questions and/or help administer this process within your organization. Contact us at info@le-hrlaw.com or 1-844-333-5253.
