Be Aware of New Family Medical Leave Act Regulations

Victoria Lipnic, assistant secretary of DOL’s Employment Standards Administration, said the department expects a heavy response to the proposed rules during the ongoing comment period, which ends April 11, 2008. Because of the expected volume of responses, DOL does not anticipate having final rules in place until fall of 2008.

Where does that leave districts that are trying to administer the FMLA? The following two actions need to be taken immediately:

1. Post the “Military Family Leave” amendment notice next to your existing FMLA poster. The notice is available at the DOL Web site.
2. Be prepared to respond to requests from employees for up to 26 weeks of leave to care for active duty service members—spouses, sons, daughters, parents, or next-of-kin—who have been injured in the line of duty. This new provision can be administered using the district’s existing FMLA procedures.

Districts will be able to update policy and procedures for administering family and medical leave when the final rules are published. HR Services’ worksite posters will then be updated and our HR consultants will provide training that incorporates the new rules beginning in spring 2009. In the interim, consultants are available to answer your questions.