Family and Medical Leave

What is Family & Medical Leave?

The Family Medical Leave act of 1993 is a federal law that requires employers to provide eligible employees leave time of up to 12 work weeks per calendar year for certain family and medical reasons.

  1.    Birth of a son or daughter and to care for the newborn child;

  2.   Placement of a child with you for adoption or foster care;

  3.   Your own serious health condition involving one of the following:

  • Inpatient Care - overnight stay  in a hospital, hospice or medical care facility (includes any period of incapacity and subsequent treatments related to same)
  • Incapacity of more than 3 consecutive, full calendar days with treatment 2 or more times within 30 days of leave
  • Incapacity of more than 3 consecutive, full calendar days with one treatment resulting in therapy or prescription
  • Prenatal care or incapacity due to pregnancy
  • Incapacity (or treatment) due to chronic serious health condition
  • Incapacity (permanent or long term) for which treatment may not be effective
  • Absence for multiple treatments for restorative surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, physical therapy, etc.

4.   To care for your spouse, CMU registered other eligible individual (OEI), child under  the age of 18 (18 or older if incapable of self-care due to disability) or parent with a serious health condition.

How do I know if I'm eligible for FML?

You must be employed with CMU for at least one year prior to your leave, and have worked a minimum of 1250 hours during the 12 months prior to your leave. The minimum of 1250 hours worked does not include any paid time such as sick, vacation, holiday.

Do I have to use FML? What if I have enough sick or vacation time to cover my leave of absences?

If your leave of absence is determined to be an FML qualifying reason, you and/or your supervisor must report your FML hours used.  FML is not a stand-alone or separate leave.  It is tracked concurrently with sick, vacation, personal, unpaid leave, short-term disability and worker's compensation.

How do I initiate a request for FML?

Notify your supervisor within 30 days of your expected leave, or as soon as practicable.

Complete Section II of the Medical Certification – Employee form (if the leave is for yourself) or the Medical Certification – Family Member form (if the leave is to care for a family member).  Ask your healthcare provider to complete the rest. Completed medical certification forms can be faxed directly to Erin Christian, Human Resources at (989) 774-3256.

For additional information, please review CMU's Family and Medical Leave Policy and/or view the FMLA Training Presentation.