Introduction to the Family and Medical Leave Act: Eligible Employees, Leave Entitlement, Employer Obligations, and More

This CLE webinar will provide an overview of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for new attorneys. The expert panel will guide practitioners through FMLA basics including who qualifies as covered employers and eligible employees, what conditions qualify for leave, and how much leave must be provided. The panel will also address the administrative obligations imposed on employers, discuss what employers may and may not do during an employee's leave, and offer best practices for mitigating risk.

One of the most significant federal laws impacting employment practitioners and their clients is the FMLA. FMLA provides eligible employees of covered employers with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualifying reasons including the birth of a child; caring for a child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition; or for the employee's own serious health condition.

Navigating FMLA's requirements is challenging given the expansive scope of what qualifies as a "serious health condition," the allowance for intermittent leave use, and the significant notice and recordkeeping obligations imposed on employers. Additionally, the law affords certain benefits and protections to employees that limit actions the employer can take before, during, and even after the employee's leave. Therefore, new employment attorneys must understand FMLA to help clients mitigate the risk of enforcement action.

Listen as our expert panel guides practitioners through the basics of FMLA including who are covered employers and eligible employees, and what conditions qualify for leave. The panel will discuss the administrative challenges associated with FMLA, including providing notice to eligible employees, calculating and tracking FMLA leave use, and employer recordkeeping requirements. The panel will also offer best practices for mitigating client risk of enforcement action.