What is intermittent leave?
Intermittent Leave
Intermittent leave is a type of leave taken under the [https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Family%20and%20Medical%20Leave%20Act](Family and Medical Leave Act) (FMLA) that allows employees to take leave in separate blocks of time, rather than all at once. This means an employee can take leave for as little as an hour or as long as several weeks, depending on the qualifying reason and their employer's policy.
Key characteristics of intermittent leave:
- Purpose: It's designed for situations where a medical condition or family need requires periodic, rather than continuous, absences.
- Qualifying Reasons: Intermittent leave can be taken for the same reasons as other FMLA leave, such as the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or for the employee's own [https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/serious%20health%20condition](serious health condition).
- Tracking: Employers must carefully track the amount of leave taken intermittently to ensure that the employee doesn't exceed their [https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/FMLA%20entitlement](FMLA entitlement) of 12 weeks (or 26 weeks for military caregiver leave) in a 12-month period.
- Scheduling: Employers can require employees to schedule intermittent leave in a way that minimizes disruption to the workplace, subject to medical necessity. They can also temporarily transfer an employee to an alternative position that better accommodates recurring periods of leave, with equivalent pay and benefits.
- Certification: Employers can request medical certification to support the need for intermittent leave, including the expected duration and frequency of absences.
Example Scenarios:
- An employee undergoing cancer treatment might take intermittent leave for chemotherapy appointments.
- An employee caring for a child with a chronic illness might take intermittent leave for doctor's appointments or when the child's condition flares up.
- An employee with a disability might take intermittent leave for physical therapy or when their condition prevents them from working.