What is Medical Leave?
Have you ever been so sick that you couldn’t go to work? Or maybe you have a new baby at home and need some extra time to take care of them. In Arizona, there are special rules that help workers take time off for important health or family reasons without losing their jobs. This is called the Family Medical Leave Act, or FMLA for short.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
In Arizona, workers can use something called FMLA. This means you can take time off from work, and your job will be there when you’re ready to go back. This time off is unpaid, but your health insurance continues just like if you were working. However, Arizona doesn’t have extra rules like some other states do, so FMLA is the main law to know about.
Who Can Take FMLA Leave?
To use FMLA, there are a few rules:
- Your workplace must have at least 50 employees.
- You need to have worked there for at least one year.
- You must have worked at least 1,250 hours in the last year.
Why Might You Need FMLA Leave?
You can take FMLA leave for several reasons:
- To get better from a serious illness.
- To take care of a family member who is really sick.
- To spend time with a new baby or child you just adopted.
- To handle things for a family member in the military.
- To care for a wounded military family member.
How Long Can You Take Off?
- For most reasons, you can take up to 12 weeks off in a year.
- If you’re caring for a military family member who got hurt, you can take up to 26 weeks.
What Happens While You’re on Leave?
Even though you won’t get paid unless you use your saved-up time off (like PTO), your health insurance stays the same. When your leave is over, you get to go back to your job or a job that is very similar.
What Should You Do If You Need Leave?
If you think you need to take FMLA leave, tell your manager or the human resources department as soon as you can. Get a copy of the FMLA policy from them and fill out any forms they give you. It’s also a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you have questions or if anything about your leave seems wrong.
Taking care of yourself and your family is really important, and knowing about FMLA helps you do that without worrying about losing your job in Arizona. Always ask for help if you’re not sure about something!
J. Horowitz leverages over two decades of experience as a seasoned employment law attorney in Arizona to offer insightful freelance writing on the same subject. After a successful career advocating for fairness and justice in the workplace, J. now dedicates his expertise to writing comprehensive articles, blog posts, and thought leadership pieces that illuminate the complexities of employment law.