FMLA Scenario #3

Sara is a faculty member and just learned that her mother had a stroke. She needs to travel to the Midwest to take care of her mother and make long-term care arrangements if necessary.

Sara is eligible for up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave to care for her mother (See questions 5 and 6).  She will notify her supervisor and request family medical leave using EmpCenter. If she needs to leave before she can request leave in EmpCenter, she should contact her supervisor as soon as possible and her supervisor will contact OHR (See question 21). She will need to provide medical certification for her mother's health condition within 15 days (See question 24). Because Sara is a faculty member, she will use sick leave and may elect to use vacation (if applicable) or unpaid leave if she exhausts her sick leave.  All leave (paid and/or unpaid) counts toward her 12 weeks of family and medical leave (See questions 17 and 18).

If Sara needs to take time to move her mother to a care facility, this time will also be covered by the FMLA and OFLA.  Should her mother pass away during the 12 weeks, Sara will no longer be eligible for family and medical leave (FMLA and/or OFLA) for her mother's serious health condition, but OFLA leave does provide for up to 2 weeks for bereavement.