adoption and sick leave

Jocelyn

We have an extended sick leave policy that coincides with illnesses covered by FMLA. Employees have separate ESL and PTO banks. ESL hours cannot be used because of a family member's illness. The employees who are on maternity leave use ESL hours while on leave. Since most lengthy maternity leaves are more for bonding rather than recovering from the birth, we are in a way allowing moms an exception to the ESL policy. An adoptive mom is now asking for that same exception. My feeling is that adoptive and birth moms have the same coverage under FMLA therefore it should be the same for ESL. Any thoughts?

Don D

Your policy has a loophole that allows a birth mother to claim personal illness due to childbirth. An adoptive parent cannot enjoy this loophole. You've unknowingly created an unfair monster. You've also left the father out, haven't you? x:-(