Employee Leave of Absence / Family Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 ("FMLA") requires qualifying employers like FCMC to provide at least twelve (12) weeks of leave (with or without pay) with benefits within a rolling 12-month period for the reasons described below, and 26 weeks (with or without pay) with benefits within a single 12-month period for Military Caregiver Absence, also described below.

What is FMLA?

FMLA is a paid or unpaid absence from work due to a serious health condition of an employee or a serious health condition of a qualifying family member when the employee is responsible for the care of/medical needs for that family member, or it's for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. FMLA may also be used to care for a family member called to military active duty and/or to care for a dependent injured in the line of duty when deployed. FMLA leave shall run concurrently with FCMC leave policies.

Do I qualify for FMLA?

To qualify for FMLA, eligible employees need to be: 1) employed at FCMC for a minimum of 12 months; and 2) has worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during the previous rolling 12-month period.

What are Qualifying Reasons for FMLA?

An eligible employee may take leave for up to 12 work weeks for one or more of the following reasons:

For birth of a son or daughter, and to care for the newborn child
For placement of son or daughter for adoption or foster care
To care for the employee's spouse, dependent son/daughter, or parent with a serious health condition
Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of the employee's job (including treatment related to prenatal care and pregnancy related conditions)
Because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee's spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a military member on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty status)
An eligible employee may take leave for up to 26 workweeks in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the employee is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of the covered service member ("military caregiver leave")

Birth of Son or Daughter / Care for Newborn Child

An eligible employee's entitlement to FMLA for birth and bonding expires 12 months after the date of birth. Both mothers and fathers have the right to take FMLA leave for the birth of a child and care of a healthy newborn child (i.e. bonding time). Birth and bonding leave must be taken as a continuous block of leave. Requests for alternatives to a continuous block of leave shall be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved in advance. Eligible spouses (mother and father) who both work for FCMC, are limited to a combined total of 12 workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for birth, placement, and bonding with a new child.

Notice Requirements for a Leave of Absence

Requests for a leave of absence expected to last three (3) days or longer require a minimum of thirty (30) days' notice or as soon as reasonably possible when you become aware of the need for a leave. To avoid potentially having your leave delayed or denied, follow these steps as soon as you become aware:

Notify your supervisor

Complete the Leave of Absence Request Form and return to the Human Resource Dept (link to the first attachment)

Leave for Employee's Serious Health Condition

Complete the Leave of Absence Request Form and return to the Human Resource Dept (link to the first attachment)
Certification of Healthcare Provider - Employee's Serious Health Condition (your treating healthcare provider completes) return to the HR Dept (link to Employee Cert of Healthcare Provider attachment)
PTO Donation Request (link to the PTO Donation Request attachment)

Leave for Family Member's Serious Health Condition

Complete the Leave of Absence Request Form and return to the Human Resource Dept (link to the first attachment)
Certification of Healthcare Provider - Family Member's Serious Health Condition (family member's treating healthcare provider completes). Return to HR (link to Family Cert of Healthcare Provider attachment)

Return to Work

Fit for Duty Certification (return to work from FMLA) (link to Fitness for Duty Certification attachment)

Additional Resources

FCMC's FMLA Form

Human Resources

214 Peach Orchard Road, McConnellsburg, PA 17233
Ph: 717-485-6330 Email: careers@fcmcpa.org

FCMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer