There may be a time when you need to take time off of work to take care of a family member or yourself. However, job security is often a concern, whether you are a newer or seasoned employee.
Fortunately, there is the Family and Medical Leave Act, which is unpaid leave with job protection. Not everyone is eligible for these benefits, but if you are, this can take a lot of pressure off.
Eligibility requirements for FMLA
According to Benefits.gov, there are certain eligibility requirements that an employee must meet. The benefits pertain to employees of the government and private companies, but an employee of a private company must meet the following:
- Work for a company that employs a minimum of 50 people within 75 miles of the employee’s worksite
- Been employed at the company for a minimum of 12 months
- Worked a minimum of 1,250 hours in the last 12 months
According to the Indiana State Personnel Department, eligible employees can take unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period to heal from a serious health condition, care for a newborn or newly placed adopted or fostered child, care for an immediate family member who has a serious illness or manage an emergency for an immediate family member who is a covered military member. Upon return to the job, the employee is able to jump right back into the previous job position.
When and how to request time off from your employer
Employees who know ahead of time that they will need time off must submit a request to the employer at least 30 days ahead of taking leave. If it is an emergency situation, an employee must let the employer know at least 15 minutes before the scheduled shift.
Not submitting a request by the proper deadline may result in denial of the request or unauthorized leave.
