Determining 12-Month Period

CAL

I've been asked to find out what method other companies are using for determining the 12-month period for FMLA leaves. We currently use the "rolling backward" method. What do method do you use and how has it worked for you?

skyrocket

As you know, the FMLA eligibility period is measured as of the date the leave is scheduled to begin and is based on either a calendar year, fixed year (such as fiscal or anniversary date), 12-months measured forward (i.e. 12 months from the date a period of leave began), or 12-months measured backward (i.e. looking back to the 12 months prior to the date a leave is expected to begin.)

Using a fiscal or anniversary year or a calendar year is problematic because it allows employees who have worked for you for the initial one year/1250 hours to "stack" leave. An employee could take 12 weeks leave at the end of a "leave window" calculation period and another 12 weeks at the beginning of the next leave window. I don't know anyone using the "look forward method".

cthr

We use the looking forward method, because we have state FMLA that requires you use that method, so for ease of tracking, we use it for federal FMLA as well.

karenosi

We use the rolling forward calendar. It is working very well, especially with intermittent cases.