FMLA/Workers Comp
regdunlop
176 Posts
can FMLA and workers' comp run concurrently or do we have to wait for one to end before the clock starts ticking on the other?
Comments
It is recommended that they run concurrently to protect the employer and the employee. If you wait until the end of WC, then the employer could be taking the hit of an employee being out another 12 weeks. Plus the 12 weeks does give the employee the job and benefit protection that WC may or may not provide (different states allow for different levels of WC job protection).
If you normally require employees who are eligible for FMLA to use any earned, unused paid time (sick, vacation, personnel, STD bank) while out on FMLA; remember if you run their FMLA concurrently with their Work Comp lost time - you cannot require them to use their paid time, while they are receiving indemnity (lost time) payments. If they ask for it, no problem, but if they don't want to use it, you can't require them too.