Who does FMLA cover?

Covered family members under the Family and Medical Leave Act are an employee's son, daughter, spouse, or parent per FMLA regulations. When it comes to defining the term spouse this means a wife or husband, including those partners in same sex marriages. Son or daughter refers to an adopted, foster, or biological child in addition to a legal ward, a stepchild, a child of a person who is serving in loco parentis, a person who is either 18 or older but also incapable of self-care or is under age 18. Parents are defined as adoptive, biological, foster, or step mothers or fathers and any other person who served in loco parentis to the employee when that employee was a minor.

Family members who are not covered under the federal FMLA protection include grandparents, in-laws, siblings, and other family members except in those situations in which those individuals stood in loco parentis to the employee when they were a minor. Non-family members could also be classified as having stood in loco parentis. Certain states, however, do offer broader definitions of family members, meaning more generous coverage under FMLA leave. Certain states, for example, can include grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, and others in the definition of “family member” for the purposes of family medical leave. It is important to understand when looking for who counts under FMLA to review state family leave laws for compliance.

The FMLA also empowers employees the ability to use leave for a veteran with a serious injury or illness or a covered service member if the employee is the son, daughter, parent or spouse, or next of kin of the veteran or service member. Next of kin refers to the nearest blood relative beyond the covered service member's parent, son, daughter, or spouse in the following order of priority.

• Blood relatives previously awarded legal custody of that covered service member through statutory provisions or court decrees.
• Sisters and brothers
• Grandparents
• Aunts and uncles
• First cousins except in those situations in which the service member purposefully designated another blood relative in writing as their nearest blood relative.

As you can see the circumstances for qualifying for FMLA are quite clear but it is important to understand that when an employer violates the FMLA leave laws, you could have grounds for a lawsuit. Figuring out who is covered under FMLA is important.

In order to take FMLA leave you first must work for what is known as a covered employer. Private employers must have at least 50 employees to be covered under FMLA to be classified in this manner. Those private employers who have fewer than 50 employees are not covered by FMLA but could be covered by medical leave laws or state family laws. Elementary and secondary schools and government agencies are all covered by the FMLA no matter how many employees work there. In order to take FMLA leave you will need additional criteria even after working for a covered employer. Not every person who works under a covered employer is eligible. There are three primary criteria you must meet, including:

• You must have been with your employer for a minimum of 12 months even if these are not 12 months in a row. But you cannot have a break in service that lasts more than 7 years because you will not be able to count the employment period prior to the 7-year break.
• You must have worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months before you take leave for that employer which is usually around 24 hours per week.
• You must work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles of your worksite. You will not be eligible to take FMLA leave, for example, if the employees are spread out and there are not 50 employees within 75 miles of where you work.

As a result of the non-traditional work schedules typically used by flight crew members and flight attendants, you meet the hours of work requirement if you have worked or have been paid at least 60% of your applicable monthly guarantee and have worked or been paid for a minimum of 504 hours not including vacation, medical, sick leave or personal commute time.

Unfortunately, you might find yourself in the position of having to argue with an employer who is not giving you your appropriate leave. They might be stating that you have not met the terms of employment in order to be qualified for this leave protection, and in these circumstances, it is best to empower yourself with the support of an experienced attorney. A lawyer can assist you with determining whether or not you do meet the grounds to receive the covered leave and can help manage the conversations with an employer.

You might just want to be able to use your leave rights as soon as possible, but if your employer is arguing with you and delaying your ability to take time off, this is a serious situation. You need to involve the support of an attorney who is familiar with these situations and someone who can handle these communications. Obviously you hope to return to this place of work, so you have a vested interest in keeping things as professional as possible while also getting your leave time. Sometimes it’s hard to communicate this and your knowledge of the law to an employer who has never managed an FMLA leave request before or for one who might know you’re entitled to it but doesn’t want to support you with it.

Having your own advocate minimizes the ongoing conflict and creates a roadmap for you to be able to get the help that you need. You’re certainly not on your own when it comes to managing an FMLA leave request; knowing who is covered under FMLA and clarifying that you’re protected is the first step, but it might not be the last thing you deal with in your case. Speak to an attorney today to verify that your understanding of who qualifies for FMLA is correct.