They say that what you don’t know can’t hurt you. But when it comes to the Family Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, what you don’t know can hurt you—and that applies to your managers, too.

If your managers don’t know the specifics of FMLA compliance, your company is wide open to Department of Labor (DOL) violations and civil lawsuits. After all, managers are on the frontlines everyday with employees. It takes just one ill-informed decision to take your organization down a path of inadvertent noncompliance, and the penalties can be severe.  

While most HR professionals are up to speed regarding FMLA regulations, many employers have yet to implement mandatory FMLA training for managers. Some offer it on an optional basis—but this is too important to leave to chance. Now is the time to make FMLA training for managers part of your 2019 action plan.   

The Family Medical Leave Act: By the Numbers

According to the DOL, “the FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.”

It’s estimated that 14.5% of covered U.S. employees use FMLA benefits every year. And as it’s become known and used more widely, DOL complaints and lawsuits have increased.

In 2018, the DOL handled 1,011 FMLA complaints, finding violations in 53% of these cases and securing $1,761,138 in employee back wages. Violations fell under the following categories, listed in order of frequency:

• Termination for taking FMLA leave
• Discrimination for using FMLA
• Refusal to grant FMLA leave
• Refusal to restore returning employees to equivalent positions
• Failure to maintain employee health benefits while on FMLA

In addition, it appears more employees are pursuing litigation. In 2012, a total of 291 FMLA lawsuits were filed by employees. By 2015, that number increased by 192%. The average jury verdict during this period: $735,000 against the employer.  

When employers are hit with FMLA complaints and lawsuits, they take more than a financial hit. It hurts their reputation, making it harder to hire and retain quality employees. For industries facing the current labor shortage, a robust FMLA training program will more than pay for itself.

Where to Focus FMLA Training for Managers

Don’t assume what your managers baseline FMLA knowledge—make sure training is both basic yet comprehensive. (Along with an FMLA employer guide, the DOL offers a detailed FMLA PowerPoint that makes a good starting point). In addition, focus on areas where managers often run into trouble, including:

Acknowledging the Possible Need for FMLA

Do your managers know that they can’t just passively wait for employees to ask specifically about FMLA leave? When an employee alerts them to an absence that may be covered, managers are responsible for taking the lead. Consider arming them with a list of approved questions to ask during these initial discussions.Keeping Emotions Under Control

Dealing with frequent absenteeism can be frustrating. However, managers should learn to keep their anger or disappointment under wraps—and to refrain from discouraging workers from applying for FMLA protection. It helps to provide them with scripted responses that they can fall back on in these situations.

Maintaining Employee Confidentiality

Just because an employee is on FMLA leave, that doesn’t give managers permission to discuss his or her health condition with other employees. Give managers suggested safe responses to use when team members question a coworker’s leave.

Addressing Intermittent Leave

Intermittent leave can be particularly difficult for managers to handle, because it wreaks havoc with staffing and scheduling plans. Make sure your managers know how it works, and that your scheduling software allows for quick, easy changes. 

VensureHR Can Help with FMLA Compliance

VensureHR’s integrated HR and payroll software helps employers maintain rigorous FMLA compliance. Our system makes it easy to identify who is eligible and track FMLA usage, which is particularly important in cases of intermittent leave. It can help HR stay on top of upcoming dates, generate important email reminders, and easily access DOL forms.

Furthermore, with our flexible scheduling software, it’s easy to make real-time changes to work schedules. And with our online employee self-service portal, its quick to add new training videos and materials—or even provide access to online courses—while tracking who’s received FMLA training and when.

These are some of the many ways that VensureHR helps employers maintain compliance with labor laws like the Family Medical Leave Act, all while simplifying end-to-end HR administration. Does your current HR system do that? Start the year off right: contact Vensure today and ensure compliance across the board.