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ASTRONOLOGY®

Can You Legally Terminate An Employee Who Does Not Return To Work After FMLA Leave Ends?

March 29, 2016 by Cassandra Carver 8 Comments

If you are a private employer with 50 employees or more, you must be aware of both the Federal and your state’s version (if any) of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the paperwork that goes with its administration. FMLA guarantees certain employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave each year with no threat of job loss. Some states are more generous and offer higher amounts of unpaid leave.  FMLA also requires that employers covered by the law maintain the health benefits for eligible workers just as if they were working.

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Like any workplace regulation, there are always unusual circumstances that need to be reviewed carefully by the employer. Employers must also have a sense of how courts have interpreted the rights of the employee under these circumstances.

When assisting organizations with FMLA administration, employers often ask PMP how to handle an employee who cannot return to work after the FMLA ends. At this point, the employer is left in a quandary — does it terminate employment because the employee cannot immediately return to work, or does it consider approving more leave than the 12 weeks provided for under the Family and Medical Leave Act? Before an employer does either of the above, it should analyze whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other workforce regulations could affect the decision. How an employer handles these requests could mean the difference between a grateful employee or an expensive lawsuit.

In order to be able to determine if you must grant additional leave as an ADA accommodation, you must first determine whether the employee’s condition qualifies as a disability under the ADA. The employer should review the request keeping these five points in mind:

  • Engage the employee in an interactive process to determine how much additional time is being requested.
  • Review the employee’s revised medical certification to see how much additional time is actually necessary. Unlimited leave is not considered a “reasonable accommodation.”
  • Review and document how the employee’s request for leave impacts your business and operations.
  • Determine whether continued leave poses an undue hardship.
  • Review past practices.

Employers should be very reluctant to terminate an employee solely because the employee has exhausted his or her FMLA or some other employer-provided leave. Employers should evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis, and be able to defend any decision that denies the extension of leave.

According to a recent article, FMLA lawsuits have been steadily increasing. In 2012, there were 406 new federal FMLA cases filed nationally. In 2013 that number more than doubled to 992. In 2014, there were 1,115 FMLA lawsuits filed. If you are unsure of how to interpret the FMLA, ADA, or other workplace regulations, it is prudent that you contact an HR Professional who is well versed in these laws. For a small consulting fee, you may be able to avoid a very large lawsuit. Which makes more sense – consulting or litigation? That’s a no-brainer.


This article is intended for general information only and should not be constructed as legal advice. Contact PMP with any questions regarding FMLA matters by emailing Mark@pmphr.com or calling (516) 921.3400.

About Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl and Associates:

Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl and Associates, Inc. (PMP),  the oldest labor relations consulting firm representing management on Long Island, was founded in 1964 by former union organizer and worker’s rights advocate, Murray W. Portnoy.  Initially, Murray offered human resource consulting and union contract negotiating services to a handful of clients. Today PMP has a full staff of experienced and talented human resources and labor relations consultants, labor and employment attorneys, and administrative personnel. Murray Portnoy’s values and vision remain at the core of PMP’s mission and principles.

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Filed Under: Legal Compliance Tagged With: Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), FMLA

Comments

  1. Renea says

    May 7, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    I was terminated on the 85th day. I had two major surgeries. Was it legal for my company to terminate me. I live in Pennsylvania.

    Reply
  2. Jennifer Loftus says

    May 22, 2018 at 9:40 am

    Hi Renea!

    Thank you for your post! I unfortunately can’t make a determination one way or the other regarding your situation. There are many situational factors in play that would need to be fully explored in a private environment. Your employer may have been within their rights or not. If you have concerns, my best advice is to seek legal counsel.

    – Jennifer

    Reply
  3. dianne says

    November 28, 2018 at 8:36 pm

    I am not eligible for FMLA due to being part time employees. I was supposed to have shoulder surgery and fell 2 weeks prior and broke my leg.I was suppose to have surgery for my shoulder the day before the fall because my boss asked me to move it 2 weeks which I did, so my shoulder surgery would have been complete if it was done whenit was scheduled and i most likely would not have broken my leg. So I had 8 weeks sick but can not be back due to i had to wait 8 weeks to do my shoulder surgery which I just did and need at least an other 8 weeks. My job just sent me a letter asking me to resign.Do to I have not more sick or vacation. Do I have to resign or can I let them fire me or lay me off so that I can collect Unemployement.

    Reply
    • Cassandra Carver says

      November 29, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Thank you for your post Dianne! I unfortunately can’t make a determination one way or the other regarding your situation. There are many situational factors in play that would need to be fully explored in a private environment. If you have concerns, my best advice is to seek legal counsel.

      Reply
  4. Sheila Campbell says

    January 31, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    My friend was on put on FMLA after going to the doctor and being restricted in her work. She was told she couldn’t return to work without a doctors release. This meant that she had to have surgery on her shoulder. The FMLA ran out before she has been released and is still in physically therapy. She’s 61 years old and would have had 12 weeks of vacation on 2/2/21, she was fired on 1/28/21, worked there since 2003.

    Reply
    • Cassandra Carver says

      August 19, 2021 at 9:38 am

      We are sorry about the challenges your friend faced.

      Reply
  5. Trisha Romero says

    July 6, 2021 at 12:50 pm

    We have an employee who took her 12 weeks leave after having a baby. She has not returned to work.
    Can an employer legally terminate employment at the 14 week? located in California

    Reply
    • Cassandra Carver says

      August 19, 2021 at 9:37 am

      Hello,
      We encourage you to speak to an employment law firm to get a definitive answer.

      Reply

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