Resources Search The leave and disability arena is rife with complexity. For any given absence, employees may find themselves deep in the alphabet soup of absence—STD, FMLA, CAPDL, CFRA, CASDI, CAPFL, HELP! Okay, maybe the last one isn’t a leave law yet (I’m looking at you, Hawaii), but with so much complexity in just the … Continued

Resources Search Over the past few years, many states across the country have proposed (and a handful have passed) legislation to create state-mandated paid family and medical leave programs, providing eligible employees with job protection and paid benefits for qualifying leaves of absence. Recently, however, a new trend is popping up in legislation all over … Continued

Resources Search Earlier this month, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the federal Department of Labor (DOL) was busy publishing guidance related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Both issued on February 9, 2023, only a few days after the FMLA’s 30th birthday, the Field … Continued

Resources Search When you get leave requests from your employees, do you say to yourself, “I know this request qualifies for leave under the FMLA, I know how it should be tracked, I know what calendar to use and I’m confident that we’re about to manage this leave correctly?” Yes? Congratulations! You probably already attended … Continued

Resources Search Compliance Webinar: (February 14, 2023) Absence Management University: A Large Employer’s Guide to FMLA While the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 turns 30 this year, many employers are still struggling to understand the law and how to apply it. The basics aren’t so basic, especially as organizations must coordinate multiple leave programs. In … Continued

Resources Search After three years of the pandemic, the Biden Administration announced the COVID-19 National Emergency will end on May 11, 2023. What is the significance of this date, and what is its impact on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) disability plans’ claims and appeals timeframes?   Background – COVID National Emergency and Agency Guidance  … Continued

Resources Search We’re a short seven months from September 3, 2023, when employees can start submitting claims for Paid Leave Oregon benefits. Between now and then, there are plenty of actions employers should take to prepare. If you need a bit of a refresher on the program, check out our previous blog post here. Withholding … Continued

Resources Search The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has many complex components that can be difficult for employers and employees to understand. Just to name a few examples: explaining “Rolling Back”; “Joint Employers”; and the definition of “Appropriate Medical Facts,” are all elements of FMLA that cause confusion. Although eligibility is usually one … Continued

Resources Search The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) provides certain protections for individuals who leave their civilian employment to perform military service. Under USERRA, employers are required to provide certain rights and benefits to these individuals, including the right to be reemployed in their civilian jobs after completing their military service, and … Continued

Resources Search During the 2022 holiday season, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Joe Biden signed, a bipartisan omnibus spending bill, the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This bill included two particularly notable measures relating to workplace accommodation: the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP for … Continued

Resources Search What really mattered to absence management experts, employers, leave administrators, and HR leaders in 2022? We looked at our blog readership and found out which blog posts were the most popular. Several of the most popular posts offer guidance on how to handle the changes ahead in 2023, particularly at the state level. … Continued

Resources Search A major challenge for processing claim paperwork is getting the right information in a timely manner. Case managers working to help patients utilize their employer leave policies sometimes have to follow-up with healthcare practitioners’ offices for additional information, especially when extending a leave request. A follow-up may be for original diagnosis documentation, a … Continued