{"id":357745,"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\/what-is-fmla-faq-on-federal-leave-law.html"},"modified":"2024-03-05T10:18:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T15:18:00","slug":"what-is-fmla-faq-on-federal-leave-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/what-is-fmla-faq-on-federal-leave-law.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is FMLA? FAQ on Federal Leave Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">What Is FMLA? FAQ on Federal Leave Law<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/susan-buckner-j-d\/\">Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-bender-esq\/\">Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            March 05, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Life happens, and sometimes you&#8217;ll need to miss work as a response.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/family-and-medical-leave-overview.html\">Family and Medical Leave Act<\/a><span style=\"background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.8125rem;\">&nbsp;(FMLA) guarantees eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a serious health condition.&nbsp;<\/span><br>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>FMLA is job-protected leave. Employers must maintain the position and health benefits for eligible workers. This law helps prioritize your health and family while also protecting your job.&nbsp;This law comes in handy if you&#8217;re sick and need to take a week off work, but&nbsp;worried about losing your job if you don&#8217;t show up.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>FMLA is a complicated federal leave law. The following FAQ&nbsp;can help you understand your rights and responsibilities under federal law and determine&nbsp;whether you&#8217;re covered.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"#EmployersFMLA\" >Which employers does FMLA apply to?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#Eligibility\" >How do I know if I&#8217;m eligible for FMLA?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLASituations\" >What sorts of situations qualify for FMLA leave?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAParents\" >My wife&#8217;s father has recently become very ill. Can I take FMLA leave to care for him?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAAdultChildren\" >Can I take FMLA leave to care for my 19-year-old son?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLATime\" >How do employers determine the applicable 12-month period?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAPaid\" >Will I get paid during FMLA leave?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FLMAOtherTypesOfLeave\" >Can other types of leave count toward my 12-week FMLA leave?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAMedicalTreatments\" >Can I take FMLA leave to attend my prescribed sessions with a therapist?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FLMAMedicalRecords\" >My employer wants proof that I&#8217;m really sick. Do I have to provide medical records?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLACutShort\" >Can my employer require me to end my leave early?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAActions\" >Are there limits to what I can and can&#8217;t do while on FMLA leave?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLADenialOfLeave\" >My employer has refused to grant my request for leave. Can they do that?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLALossOfJob\" >Can I lose my job if I take FMLA leave?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLARetaliation\" >If I complain about an FMLA violation, can my employer fire me?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#FMLABonus\" >What about my bonus?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#LocateAnAttorneyNearYou\" >Get professional legal help with your FMLA concerns<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><a id=\"EmployersFMLA\"><\/a>Which employers does FMLA apply to?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Covered employers must follow&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/rights-and-responsibilities-under-the-fmla.html\">FMLA rules<\/a>. Covered employers are:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Public agencies, including state and federal employers<\/li>\r\n<li>Schools and hospitals<\/li>\r\n<li>Businesses with more than 50 employees who worked at least 20 workweeks during the current or previous year<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Employers are subject to fines if they don&#8217;t provide coverage.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Eligibility\"><\/a>How do I know if I&#8217;m eligible for FMLA?<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/fmla-eligibility.html\">Employee eligibility<\/a>&nbsp;is based on three factors:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The employee must work for a covered employer<\/li>\r\n<li>The employee must work at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months before taking FMLA leave<\/li>\r\n<li>The employee must work at a worksite with at least 50 employees or within 75 miles of such a location<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Other conditions may apply.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLASituations\"><\/a>What sorts of situations qualify for FMLA leave?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Covered employers must grant FMLA leave for one or more&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/reasons-that-qualify-for-fmla-leave.html\">qualifying reasons<\/a>:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The employee cannot work because of their own serious injury or medical condition<\/li>\r\n<li>The employee must care for an immediate family member who has a serious medical condition<\/li>\r\n<li>The birth of a child and subsequent care<\/li>\r\n<li>The placement of an adopted or foster care child<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Military service members may use FMLA leave for a&nbsp;qualifying exigency.&nbsp;If an employee is a member of the armed forces on active duty, active reserve, or in the National Guard, they can use FMLA if:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>They are called to active duty status<\/li>\r\n<li>The employee&#8217;s spouse or immediate family member is called to active duty<\/li>\r\n<li>They need military caregiver leave if a family member is injured<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>All branches of the military are covered.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLAParents\"><\/a>My wife&#8217;s father has recently become very ill. Can I take FMLA leave to care for him?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Unfortunately, no. FMLA only allows employees to take leave to care for their parents, not their in-laws. Your wife must be the one to take the leave.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLAAdultChildren\"><\/a>Can I take FMLA leave to care for my 19-year-old son?<\/h2>\r\n<p>It depends. FMLA will only cover care for children over 18 if the child is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/whd\/regs\/compliance\/whdfs28k.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">incapable of self-care<\/a>&nbsp;because of a serious disability that impacts one of the&nbsp;major life activities.&nbsp;You may have other protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLATime\"><\/a>How do employers determine the applicable 12-month period?<\/h2>\r\n<p>FMLA creates four options for employers when calculating the 12-month period they&#8217;ll use. Employers can select one of the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The calendar year<\/li>\r\n<li>A fixed&nbsp;leave year&nbsp;that&nbsp;spans&nbsp;any 12 months, such as a fiscal year&nbsp;or the anniversary of the employee starting with the company<\/li>\r\n<li>A 12-month period beginning with the date that an employee&#8217;s first FMLA leave begins<\/li>\r\n<li>A 12-month period that goes backward from the date that an employee&#8217;s first FMLA leave begins<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>All four methods are permitted.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLAPaid\"><\/a>Will I get paid during FMLA leave?<\/h2>\r\n<p>FMLA is not&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/paid-family-and-sick-leave-laws.html\">paid leave<\/a>. An employee can elect to use paid leave that they&#8217;ve accrued. Employers can also require an employee to use paid sick leave as part of the unpaid FMLA leave if the employer provides the employee with advance notice of this policy.<\/p>\r\n<p>Employers should check their state laws. Some states have paid sick leave laws that mirror FMLA requirements.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FLMAOtherTypesOfLeave\"><\/a>Can other types of leave count toward my 12-week FMLA leave?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Other types of leave can count if&nbsp;the purpose of the leave meets the requirements for FMLA leave and the employer provides proper notice in writing that they&#8217;ll consider the leave as part of the employee&#8217;s yearly FMLA allotment. This sort of situation often&nbsp;occurs when an employee takes&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/workers-compensation\/workers-compensation-and-fmla.html\">leave based on workers&#8217; comp<\/a>&nbsp;or maternity\/paternity leave.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLAMedicalTreatments\"><\/a>Can I take FMLA leave to attend my prescribed sessions with a therapist?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Yes. The 12 weeks of FMLA leave can be taken all at once or intermittently. The leave covers ongoing medical treatments by a healthcare provider. Employees can count therapy sessions that are a&nbsp;medical&nbsp;necessity&nbsp;as FMLA leave.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FLMAMedicalRecords\"><\/a>My employer wants proof that I&#8217;m really sick. Do I have to provide medical records?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No. An employer can request that you provide medical certification of your serious medical condition, but you&nbsp;don&#8217;t have to provide other&nbsp;medical records to your employer.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLACutShort\"><\/a>Can my employer require me to end my leave early?<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you fail to provide&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/fmla-notice-requirements-employee.html\">medical certification of your serious condition<\/a>, then your employer may be able to cut your leave short. If you&#8217;ve provided the proper certification, an employer can&#8217;t request that you come back to work, even by offering light or part-time work.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLAActions\"><\/a>Are there limits to what I can and can&#8217;t do while on FMLA leave?<\/h2>\r\n<p>You may have to follow your employer&#8217;s policies on outside employment, but your employer can&#8217;t otherwise restrict your actions during your leave. This does not apply if the original reason for the leave no longer exists, if you failed to provide medical certification, or if you lied about the reasons for the leave in the first place.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLADenialOfLeave\"><\/a>My employer has refused to grant my request for leave. Can they do that?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Covered employers cannot deny eligible employees their FMLA leave entitlement. You must provide your employer sufficient notice, and meet the eligibility requirements.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLALossOfJob\"><\/a>Can I lose my job if I take FMLA leave?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No. FMLA-protected leave means your job is safe while you are out, although there are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/family-medical-leave\/walking-the-fmla-termination-tightrope.html\">a few exceptions<\/a>. Employers can&#8217;t use FMLA leave as a negative factor in any employment decisions such as promotions or terminations. If your employer had to fill the position while you were away, your employer may offer you an equivalent position when you return.<\/p>\r\n<p>Employers can sometimes deny reinstatement to certain highly-paid, salaried workers, known as&nbsp;key&nbsp;employees.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLARetaliation\"><\/a>If I complain about an FMLA violation, can my employer fire me?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No, employers can&#8217;t&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/losing-a-job\/retaliation-and-wrongful-termination.html\">retaliate against an employee<\/a>&nbsp;for alleging a violation of FMLA.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"FMLABonus\"><\/a>What about my bonus?<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you were eligible for a bonus before taking FMLA leave, your employer cannot use your leave as grounds for denying the bonus. Your health insurance, retirement benefits, and other employee rights protected by your contract or collective bargaining agreement are not affected. Time on FMLA leave does not have to count towards other benefits or seniority.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"LocateAnAttorneyNearYou\"><\/a>Get Professional Legal Help With Your FMLA Concerns<\/h2>\r\n<p>Taking time off work to care for a family member or your own serious health condition is protected&nbsp;by federal law. You have the right to&nbsp;care for yourself and your family&#8217;s health. If you believe your employer has failed to grant your leave request, speak with an experienced&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/employment-law-employee\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">employment law attorney<\/a>&nbsp;in your area.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Some employment legal issues can be solved without an attorney\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex employment law cases (such as harassment or discrimination) need the help of an attorney to protect your interests\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Legal cases for wage and benefit issues, whistleblower actions, or workplace safety can be complicated and slow. An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/employment-law-employee\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/whistleblowers\/protection-for-whistleblowers.html\">\n                        Whistleblower Protections\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/legal-help-and-resources\/using-an-employment-attorney.html\">\n                        Using an Employment Attorney\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/losing-a-job\/employee-rights-after-a-job-termination.html\">\n                        Employee Rights After Job Loss\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/same-sex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employment Law  Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/labor-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Labor Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/sexual-harassment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sexual Harassment Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wage-hour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wage and Hour Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/whistleblower-qui-tam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Whistleblower\/Qui Tam Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/wrongful-termination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wrongful Termination Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/discrimination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discrimination Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FMLA refers to the Family and Medical Leave Act. Learn about the FMLA, employee eligibility, qualifying reasons, types of leave, workers&#8217; compensation, employer responsibilities, paid leave, and much more at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":357720,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2739],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-357745","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-employment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357745\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357745"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=357745"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=357745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}