Generally, the FMLA requires an employee to give the District Office 30 days' notice of intention to take FMLA leave, and the reason for the leave. There is no "magic language" that the employee must use in notifying the District Office, nor does the employee need to mention the FMLA by name. For example, calling in "sick," without providing more information, will not be considered sufficient notice to trigger the District’s obligations under the FMLA. Instead, the notice must give the District enough information to know the employee is requesting time off, and why. This allows the District to determine if the request qualifies under the FMLA, and allows time to find a replacement for the employee. When the need for FMLA leave arises suddenly, such as with an unexpected medical emergency, the employee may take FMLA leave without prior notice, but must give the District as much notice as is reasonable under the circumstances.
To trigger the District’s obligations under the FMLA, the employee must provide "sufficient information" that indicates the following: that a condition renders the employee unable to perform the functions of the job (or, if the leave is for a family member, unable to perform daily activities); the anticipated duration of the absence; and whether the employee or the employee's family member intends to visit a health care provider or has a condition for which the employee or the employee's family member is under the continuing care of a health care provider.
The District is allowed to ask the employee to obtain a certification from a medical provider testifying to the need for the employee to take the leave for themselves or for the family member. Upon completion of the leave, the School District of Amery is allowed to require the employee to obtain a certification of fitness to return to work when the leave was due to the employee’s own health concerns. The District can delay the start of FMLA for 30 days if the employee does not provide advanced notice, and/or until the employee can provide certification from a medical provider.
Employee Request for FMLA form
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