06/08/2010
Lots of employers have no-fault attendance policies, which allow a certain number of unexcused absences without any documentation and then punish employees who go beyond allowable limits. No-fault policies are fine … as long as they don’t penalize workers for taking time off that’s protected under the FMLA.
06/02/2010
If you approve intermittent FMLA leave for an employee’s serious health condition, you’ll have a tough time arguing later that the employee’s disability means he’s unable to perform the essential functions of his job. That’s because you’ve already shown that periodic absences didn’t interfere with running the business.