Intermittent Leave
Our attorneys handle medical leave cases
Many times, many people need to take time off from work for medical reasons. Some employees choose to take an extended, unpaid medical leave. But what many people might not realize is they can take intermittent medical leave from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Make sure you fully understand your legal rights. Make sure you talk to an employment attorney at Gibson Law, LLC in Cincinnati or Dayton. Our employment lawyers have years of experience dealing with employment law cases involving medical leave and FMLA rules and regulations. We know what is allowed and what’s not and how to hold employers accountable for their actions.
If you have not been able to take time off from work for medical reasons allowed under the FMLA, you may have a strong legal case. We can answer any legal questions you might have, review the details of your potential case and advise you on what to do next. We have your best interests at heart.
What is intermittent leave?
Under the FMLA, individuals who qualify can take off 12 weeks unpaid in a 12-month period to care for a seriously ill family member, a newborn child or simply to take time to personally recover from a serious illness.
But what many people might not realize is they do not have to take all 12 weeks of medical leave off in a row. Under the FMLA, you can take those 12 weeks off in increments as small as 15 minutes during a 12 month period.
Many people choose to take intermittent medical leave in order to attend regular doctor’s appointments or care for a newborn child on a schedule that best suits a child’s or family member’s medical needs. If you’re personally recovering from a serious illness and your medical condition qualifies under the FMLA, our lawyers can help you demand the time off you’re entitled to take on your terms as well.
What am I allowed to take time off for?
Employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid intermittent time off for medical reasons in many different situations. Such reasons include:
- Doctor appointments for a serious or chronic illness
- Ongoing medical care related to an immediate family member’s serious illness
- Parents caring for a newborn or recently adopted child
You should be able to decide when and how much time you want to take off from work for medical reasons. Whether it’s in 15-minute increments, or one hour, day or week at a time, you know best and you deserve to be able to take time off when you need to under the FMLA.
Can employers deny intermittent leave requests?
There are certain circumstances when employers can deny requests for unpaid medical leave under the FMLA. That’s why it’s important to know if you qualify for FMLA. However, if you do qualify and you have a legitimate reason covered by the FMLA, your employer should not be allowed to deny an intermittent leave request for medical reasons.
Unfortunately, some employers don’t understand how the rules and regulations work. Other times, they might know but simply refuse to be accommodating to employees who need to take time off on their schedule for medical reasons.
You have rights. Don’t simply take your employer’s word on whether you can take unpaid time off from time to time for medical reasons. Talk to a lawyer familiar with the FMLA who can stand up for your rights and demand the time you deserve.
Get accurate information about your rights. Contact us
You know what’s best for your family or yourself. If you want to take unpaid medical leave at different times throughout the year, you should be able to do so if you qualify under the FMLA. That’s your right and it would be our honor to help you take off the time you need for yourself, your newborn child or your family members.
Learn more about your legal rights. Contact us for a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have two Ohio offices in Cincinnati and Dayton.