Boss and HR Manager want me to get FMLA

I think it is for the best. It is there to protect you. Could you have a superior approve it rather than a lateral? Either way, remind her of the confidentiality requirements of the job and tell her you would like to keep this between the two of you.

Well if I were you, I would say that you are willing to file for FMLA but you are contesting having the days you worked from home count against you. Rather, those are just an accommodation to your disability. Did you get paid for those days? If you are salaried did they come out of your sick days?

karendee, I'm also in HR and I'm on intermittent FMLA.  My rheumy is the one who filled out the paperwork and her office actually told me to write down whatever I wanted them to include.  I asked them to say that I needed to work intermittently when in a flare and that's exactly what she wrote.  If there is something specific you feel they need to say in order for it to get approved, just ask them.

You shouldn't be charged for the days you worked from home and you need to tell them that.  We have many employees who have worked from home when recovering from an illness and they were counted as work days.  Also, just tell your boss that you are not comfortable with your coworker seeing your personal health information.  I had that situation once before with a supervisor and the HR manager made sure that the information was only seen by her.  But, if it's stuck in your file somewhere, the coworker will be able to see it anyway if she has access to those files.  So, it all depends on how much you are willing to fight to keep her from seeing it.   

Let us know how it works out for you. My Dr is suggesting I fill out an FMLA too, I am nervous to go to my HR dept. I need my job as I carry our health insurance. It is getting harder and harder to work

By all means, make sure that the information provided is for INTERMITTENT FMLA. My first year using FMLA I used the full 3 months in one span as I had no idea intermittent FMLA was possible. I didn't need anywhere near the full 3 months. The next 2 years I used intermittent FMLA as needed and that worked out well.

A diplomatic reminder that your boss well knew you were working from home because she called you about your work might help. Maybe you could be approved for 1/2 day sick, 1/2 day working at home? Negotiate and split the difference??

Good luck and God bless!

I have a great idea - why don't you suggest a work exchange program where HR people handle other HR people's claims from different companies. Like as a hypo if an HR person from Walmart needs FMLA, HR at Target will decide if it is approved, and vice versa. Other organizations have reciprocity for things. Like if a cop has to go to jail in Maine, they go to Mass and in exchange Maine would take a Mass cop that had to go to jail. It is too late to help you but you might be able to get a program started to help HR folks everywhere.

I think you should suggest that!

Well last week my Dr faxed all the paperwork. The HR manager has been putting off talking with me all week. Now I am sick today and off work. She sent me several emails that I did not return the paperwork. She had given me a copy of the fax the Dr sent and I was supposed to give it back with a form. So I emailed it to her from home. I got this response: Karen   To explain: once you get the papers from your doctor you need to present them and the request for leave form back to me within the 15 calendar days.   Once I review your request and the doctor’s paperwork, I will issue the designation notice stating if the leave is approved or not.   You asked me to give you the fax the other day and remember I said we needed to sit and talk about this.  So we need to finish the process to ensure that the leave you are requesting and what the doctor’s information states is applicable under the FMLA guidelines. Strange huh? She keeps making it sound like I might not be approved for intermittent leave! I want to scream!!! When I was the one making these decisions I never questioned the Dr, I am not a nurse and I feel if the Dr says an employee needs to be off then who am I to question that. Thanks for letting me vent! Karen

thanks Fitzy!

thanks everyone! I am finally approved. phew.... Karen

thanks!

I had problems with employers not liking me being on FMLA but I was told by one of the HR managers that they the Dr only has to give limited information, this is to protect your privacy so that your Boss and and HR dept don't know the details of what you have just that you are on intermittent leave due to a chronic illness.  I know you work with the approver but if she gets out of line with it then report her. I didn't report people in the past about my FMLA and how they treated me and going forward I don't take crap lol no pun intended. haha.

Hang in there.