HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

FMLA Paperwork

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/14/2012 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Today I called my doctor after several months of morning pain that has caused me to be late to work or have to call in sick.  My doctor has been treating me with several meds but lately my morning pain is very severe.  It takes me about 2 hours before I can move enough to even get in the shower.  My doctor agreed that FMLA would be good at this point so I don't loose my job. 

I emailed our HR and asked for the paperwork and they still have not responded to my request.  I read about it in our policies and it states that they may offer a change in my work scheduale instead of FMLA.  If they let me come in later that will help but I'm worried about my days off.  Once I have exhausted my sick days I don't want my job to be at risk.  Can they deny me the paperwork?  I thought they had to give it to me?  It isn't available on our website so I have to have them send it to me.  I'm not an hourly employee and I stay late every night and work from home on the weekends so this more than makes up for coming in late.  I also get all my work done and my supervisor often ask me to mentor other employees.  I have a tendancy to be impatient but I don't understand why my request just was ignored.  The HR person was there that day as other emails were sent out from her to all employees for other issues but she didn't even reply to mine.  This is frustrating  and frankly it was rude of her to not even acknowledge receipt of the request.  Do they have the right to refuse me and if so what should I do? 

Posted 7/15/2012 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure what the time gap was between when you sent the email and wrote this. HR people have to be very careful and are often overly cautious. She may be checking first to see if you qualify for FMLA. She'll make sure that she has all of her ducks in order before contacting you and it is more likely that she'll call you before sending the info. I'd give her a day before sending a follow-up request.
Posted 7/16/2012 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I'm just impatient. She could have at least acknowleged my email. But I feel a little foolish now as I just checked my office email and she sent it to me today. I just hope all goes well with the approval. I have such a terrible time in the mornings and I realy need an extra hour to get ready for work.
Posted 7/16/2012 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
Kids- I know the companies that have FMLA can fit a few of there own rules in it. When president Clinton was writing it, he left a few gaps in it I heard. I think if your human resource office is close I would show up there. My job lasted many years on these. Your story sounded like mine. The mornings are rough for me. Now that I am home it 's so much less stress knowing I can stay in bed if I need to. Just taken that stress away has made me healthier. I literally would get anxious at night wondering how I was going to make it in the morning.
Posted 7/16/2012 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
They are two to three hours away not sure since I have not been there I have just gone to meetings close to it. HR emailed the paperwork last night. I was reading over the conditions and the intermintant work with coming in later is in there so I am hopefull it will be approved. I have to be there over a year and I have been there 17 months now so at least that part is covered. Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't want to quit at this point or loose my job as I do a good job once I can get moving to get there. I got a raise after 6 months for doing such a good job and they gave me an award at the yearly meeting so I know they recognize my potential and 25 years of experience in the field. Now I just need them to understand my condition or at least approve the accomodation.
Posted 7/16/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Go to DOL.gov. They must accept the department of labor paperwork.

You can request intermittent shorter hours.

Unfortunately many companies do not follow guidelines. Please read/print out the data and get familiar with it. Also keep yourself a copy of the paperwork.

They cannot just change your hours and tell you that is the accomodation they are willing to make. Nor can they require you to bring a Dr's note in for each abscence(my ex-employer tried that one)

Before I was with my current employer, My FMLA was to come in late, leave early, or be absent as needed.

I would also suggest you check out JAN the job accomodation network for other ideas to discuss with your doctor.
Posted 8/11/2012 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the great advice. I followed through with the paperwork. My boss just wanted me to adjust my work day but HR said we needed to wait for the FMLA paperwork from my doctor. He sent it in and they not only adjusted my work scheduale but have to permit me to take time off for therapy, leave early for fatigue, or take the day off if the pain is too much. I have to use my sick and vacation days first but after that I will not loose my job but I will not be paid for the day if I have to take it off. I am salaried so as long as I work part of the day my pay will not be cut. I always work from home on the weekends and evenings to stay up to date on my work so I don't feel bad about leaving early some days if the pain is too much or I am too fatigued. I also have to follow up with my doctor every two months. This is fine with me since right now I am only seeing him every 3-4 months. I am also happy that I get to keep my insurance in force. Without it I couldn't afford my treatments or medication.
I just wanted to share my experience with everyone. I feel that my employer wants me to continue working and is willing to accomodate my needs. It realy helped me to feel valued.
Posted 8/12/2012 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
Here is my experience with fmla. You have to have worked a certain number of hours in the preceding 12 months. I used fmla when my back was broken. Then 2 years later, my dh almost died with bleeding ulcer plus at the same time he had surgery for his shoulder. He got fmla but they used his sick time first. He was out for a long time. He found out that if he had not gone back as soon as the fmla time was over, he would not have had a job. A job he has worked at for 30 years. I tried to get fmla to be with him, and i did not have enough hrs on record. This year with my health problems i tried to get it again, still not enough hrs since i had to miss work so much for pain and illnesses. And i was only scheduled 6-7 hrs a day. so if you do not have enough work hrs, they do not have to give you the papers.
Dh works for a state university, if they miss more than 3 days in a row, they are suppose to have dr note.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply