Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law which came into effect in 1993. It requires the City of Savannah to grant eligible employees up to 12 weeks of FMLA job-protected leave per rolling 12 month period for specified medical reasons.

Under what circumstances can FMLA leave be requested?

FMLA leave may be requested at any time; however, this does not automatically mean the leave will be granted or that the employee is eligible for FMLA leave. FMLA Source must determine whether or not the leave requested falls under the protection of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The City of Savannah is required to inform the employee of FMLA rights when made aware of the condition. In addition, the department head, human resources personnel, payroll personnel and administrative assistant will be made aware of the approval dates.

Is FMLA paid leave?

No, FMLA is unpaid leave. However, if available an employee may use their paid leave to run concurrently with their FMLA. In addition, an employee is eligible for leave donations once any available personal leave is exhausted. If you would like to request leave donations or if you would like to donate leave, please complete the Leave Donation Form and fax directly to the Payroll department at 912.644.5962.

How does FMLA benefit me?

The following benefits will apply if you qualify for leave under FMLA:

12 weeks of job-protected leave per year
Maintenance of health care benefits - you will be deducted for any missed premiums upon your return. *Employees are responsible for all missed premiums,. Any employee absent over 4 months my be set up on direct bill.*
Job restoration upon return from FMLA leave

There are three requirements you must meet to be considered eligible for FMLA leave:

You must have been employed by the City for a total of 12 months.
You must have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the first day of taking FMLA leave.
You or a family member must have a serious medical condition which meets the criteria of FMLA.

Who qualifies as "family"?

A child, spouse, or parent qualifies as "family" under FMLA guidelines.

Under what circumstances may I use FMLA leave?

FMLA leave is available to you if you are certified as having a health condition as defined under the FMLA and meet the eligibility criteria. You may also use FMLA leave if an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) has a health condition and needs your care.

What types of illnesses qualify for leave under FMLA?

The most common serious health conditions that qualify for FMLA leave are:

Conditions requiring an overnight stay in a hospital or other medical care facility.
Conditions that incapacitate you or your family member (for example, unable to work or attend school) for more than 5 consecutive days and have ongoing medical treatment (either multiple appointments with a health care provider, or a single appointment and follow-up care such as prescription medication).
Chronic conditions that cause occasional periods when you or your family member are incapacitated and require treatment by a health care provider at least twice a year.
Pregnancy (including prenatal medical appointments, incapacity due to morning sickness, and medically required bed rest). *As delivery date approaches, provide any updates or changes to FMLASource. If updates to your leave are not communicated in a timely manner, your job protection and/or benefits that you qualify for may be delayed.*

How To Apply For & Track FMLA

Track usage with FMLASource by one of the following resources:

Website: www.fmlasource.com
Mobile App: downloading ‘FMLASource Now’ (for GooglePlay or Apple iOS)
Email: FMLACenter@fmlasource.com
Call: 866.365.0476

When to Contact FMLA Source After Leave is Approved

Active Continuous Leaves: If you have an active continuous leave and any of the following apply, you must contact FMLASource immediately:

You require an extension of your current leave
You do not expect to return to work at all
You will be returning to work earlier than anticipated
Your circumstances have changed in any other respect

If any of the above apply and you fail to contact FMLASource, you may suffer a loss of leave protection, including your right to be restored to employment.

Active Intermittent Leaves: If you have an active intermittent leave and would like your time to be protected, you must (1) contact FMLASource to report the intermittent leave used, and (2) follow your employer’s standard “call-in” procedure for each absence related to this intermittent leave. Failure to contact both parties may result in your time off work being unprotected.