Skip to main content

Employee Leave – Legal Rules

 

Employees may need to take time off from work for various reasons, including for their own medical situations or family emergencies. Federal and state leave laws require employers to provide employees with leave in certain situations. In general, when employees request time off from work, employers should consider their obligations under:

  • The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), if applicable;
  • The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA);
  • The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if applicable; and
  • Any applicable state and local laws on employee leave, including laws about paid sick leave.

General Rules

  • At the federal level, the FMLA, USERRA and the ADA require covered employers to provide leave in certain situations.
  • Many states have their own laws regarding employee leave, including family and medical leave, school leave and organ donation leave.
  • As a growing trend, states and localities are adopting paid sick leave laws.

Key Compliance Steps

  • Determine which leave laws apply to your organization
  • Review employee leave policies and practices for compliance with applicable laws.
  • Train supervisors on leave policies.
  • Administer employee leaves in a consistent and nondiscriminatory manner across your organization.
Download this Compliance Overview for a high-level summary of the compliance rules that an employer should consider when evaluating an employee’s leave request.

For more information about employee benefits, our services and products, please contact HANYS Benefit Services by email or by calling (518) 431-7735.

Popular posts from this blog

Employee Benefits Offerings: What Perks Can You Add?

Employee benefits can play a crucial role in attracting and retaining top talent. Beyond compensation and bonuses, offering a variety of perks can significantly enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. But what should you include in your employee benefits offerings?   What are employee benefits?   Employee benefits encompass compensation, bonuses and various perks outside an employee's wage. By offering flexible employee benefits, you can improve employee productivity and loyalty while attracting and retaining talented candidates.   Personalized benefits examples   The type of benefits offered can vary by industry. We've compiled some of the most popular options to help you explore possible employee benefits strategies .  1. Social opportunities   Employee perks don't always have to be tied to a benefits package. Sometimes, the best way to engage your employees can be through social opportunities. Group activities can help im...
Read more

What is Risk Management? 4 Key Topics to Know

Understanding risk management in retirement programs  Managing a retirement program is complex, with multiple layers of risk. For organizations and their leadership, understanding and mitigating these risks is crucial to ensuring the long-term success and reliability of these programs.   It often leaves human resource professionals, employers and program administrators questioning, "What is risk management, and how can we excel at it?"  This blog post explores the various aspects of risk management in retirement program administration and provides actionable insights to help organizations better manage these risks.  The importance of risk management  Retirement programs are designed to benefit participants and beneficiaries, but they come with their own set of risks. These risks can be broadly categorized into four main topics:  Fees  Administration  Investments  Cybersecurity  Each of these topics requires meticulous attention and ...
Read more

What is HR vendor management? Overview with scenarios

Vendor management can be a litigious environment where efficiency, transparency and risk mitigation are paramount. With the right advisor in your organization’s corner, you’ll feel more confident navigating vendors and managing their services, ensuring streamlined processes and strategic alignment.   In this blog post, we'll cover the basics: What vendor management in HR entails, why it's important, how it can transform businesses and some scenarios in a few business types. Level up your knowledge and find the right partners to thrive.  Understanding vendor management in HR  Vendor management in HR involves the systematic management of third-party suppliers who provide goods and services essential to HR operations. This includes managing contracts, ensuring compliance with service level agreements and optimizing vendor performance to align with a company's long-term business goals.  A robust vendor management strategy can provide organizations with a structured ...
Read more