Register For Fmla

For employees, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) establishes certain parameters under which you can take up to 12 weeks of leave from work without losing your job. Employees who get sick, pregnant, or have to care for another family member might qualify. In order to qualify for FMLA, however, you must register. You must communicate with your physician and employer and ensure all the paperwork gets completed and turned in. Then you must stay in contact with the FMLA board until they approve your request. Registering for FMLA might seem like a daunting procedure, but if you follow a few guidelines, you can register for FMLA and take a temporary leave from your job without endangering your job security.

Instructions

1. Review the FMLA poster at your job site. Government employment regulations require all employers to hang an FMLA informational poster in the workplace in a place of prominence. The poster contains all the rules of FMLA and the conditions of approval. Review all the requirements and determine if you qualify. For future reference, take notes of each step you have to complete. Copy all fax numbers and department phone numbers from the poster.

2. See your physician. Your physician must complete a health care provider form (HPF).

Start the process at least six weeks in advance. A sudden illness in the family might preclude your ability to start the filing process early. For other situations, however, such as pregnancies or upcoming surgery, begin as early as possible. The filing process can take up to four weeks to process.

3. Fax your physician's HPF to the fax number indicated on the FMLA poster at your job site. Every city or region has a different FMLA office, so contact the number on the poster at your job site, or get the number from your physician. Verify that your HPF was received by calling the appropriate department phone number. Do not assume they received your paperwork. Call back within 48 hours to confirm the FMLA office received your paperwork. When you call, you will receive a case number. Write down the case number for future reference.

4. Complete the FMLA paperwork that you receive in the mail. For instance, the FMLA board will send you an FMLA packet to complete. Complete the paperwork and return it by the deadline stated in the paperwork. No centralized FMLA website exists, so do not anticipate your city operating an online FMLA site. Usually, you have approximately 25 days to return the paperwork. The 25-day window begins the first day you miss work. If you work proactively, you can take your time. If you have already started missing work, you must file the paperwork quickly. Make sure you complete all the forms and sign all appropriate places. If you submit incomplete forms, you must still meet the 25-day deadline. If you submit incomplete forms and you miss the deadline, your local FMLA agency will deny your application. Following this denial, you have 14 days to resubmit complete paperwork.

5. Once you submit the paperwork, wait 48 hours to call your local agency to find out if your application was approved. If your FMLA request was denied, file an appeal.

6. Notify your human resources manager or scheduling manager of the FMLA board's decision. Although you do not need to contact your employer until the day you miss work, keeping your employer in the loop regarding the FMLA process helps ensure your employer processes your paychecks accurately. Once you miss work due to FMLA-approved reasons, you must have someone call your employer on a daily basis and report that you will miss work due to FMLA reasons. If for some reason you cannot make that phone call, have a family member call. Sometimes, employers can accept notices that cover five days at a time, but you still need to contact your employer at the beginning of each work week.

Tips Warnings

If you can't locate the FMLA poster at your workplace, ask your manager. The law requires you have ready access to FMLA information.

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