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Can a California employer deny an FMLA request?

On Behalf of | Jun 2, 2023 | Family And Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that protects employees who need to take unpaid leave. To qualify for FMLA benefits, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, completed 1,250 hours of work in the past year and worked at a location with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.

The goal of FMLA is to support employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance by providing them with the opportunity to take reasonable unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. However, questions often arise about the conditions under which an employer can deny an FMLA request.

Inadequate documentation

When an employee requests FMLA leave, they must provide sufficient documentation to prove they need the time off. This could be a medical certificate from a healthcare provider or a clear explanation of a family-related leave. If the documentation is incomplete or insufficient, an employer can deny the request. Employees must make sure the forms are not missing any information and that they provide specific details about the condition, its severity and how long they will not be able to work.

Exhaustion of FMLA leave

Once an employee has exhausted their designated FMLA leave for the year, the employer may deny any additional FMLA requests during that time frame. To ensure fairness and consistency in leave administration, employers should communicate leave balances clearly to employees and handle FMLA requests and denials in accordance with the FMLA guidelines. By doing so, employers foster transparency and trust, creating a supportive environment where employees feel confident in their rights and entitlements.

While FMLA provides important protections for employees, they are not guaranteed time off. Understanding these conditions is important to effectively navigate FMLA rights and responsibilities.

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