{"id":357733,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/fmla-notice-requirements-employee.html"},"modified":"2023-12-05T13:39:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T18:39:15","slug":"fmla-notice-requirements-employee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/fmla-notice-requirements-employee.html","title":{"rendered":"FMLA Notice Requirements – Employee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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FMLA Notice Requirements – Employee<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

As an employee, you have federally protected rights. The Family and Medical Leave Act<\/a> (FMLA) protects an employee’s right to take a leave of absence<\/a> for several reasons. Those reasons include the employee’s serious health condition, a serious injury, an injury to a family member, or the opportunity to bond with a child. The FMLA also allows leave to spend time with a spouse before they go on active military duty.<\/p>\r\n

Eligible employees of covered employers can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for an FMLA-qualifying reason.<\/p>\r\n

To get time off under federal law, employees must give notice to employers in a reasonable manner. Employees have different FMLA notice requirements depending on the situation. However, there are general guidelines for leave requests.<\/p>\r\n

Information Required for FMLA Notice<\/h2>\r\n

FMLA leave usually starts with an employee’s request for time off. You can provide verbal or written notice<\/a> to your employer of your need for FMLA leave. Employees must tell employers when they need to take time off and the amount of leave needed. You don’t have to mention the FMLA by name. <\/p>\r\n

When you request time off, it’s up to your employer to determine if the work absence is unpaid FMLA leave, but you must give your employer enough information to know whether the work absence is FMLA-protected.<\/p>\r\n

Sufficient information may include any of the following:<\/p>\r\n