FMLA

FMLA is a federal program that provides eligible employees with 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave for family and medical reasons during a 12-month period.

FMLA Eligible Employees:

• Have worked for the employer for at least 12 months.
• Have at least 1,250 hours of service for the employer during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave.
• Work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.

Employee Responsibilities:

• Notify HR department of your need for time off and complete appropriate paperwork, prior to commencement of the leave. Completed paperwork is requested at least 30 days prior to the start of the leave.
• Additionally, a teacher making application for child care leave shall inform the Superintendent, in writing, of intention to take the leave at least two (2) calendar months before commencement of the intended leave.
• The employee must complete the Leave Of Absence Request Form AND the Eligibility, Rights, and Responsibilities Form. A physician must complete EITHER the Employee Certification Form OR the Family Certification Form.
  • FMLA Leave of Absence Request Form (Employee Completes)
  • FMLA Eligibility, Rights & Responsibilities Form (Employee Completes)
  • FMLA Certification Form - Employee (to be completed by medical provider)
  • FMLA Certification Form - Family (to be completed by medical provider)
• Notify building supervisor of your need for time off and discuss sub arrangements, if needed.
• Employee and/or supervisor will then contact HR for assistance with sub needs after determining needs of the classroom/building.
• HR Contact: Jamie Norton, 507-460-1910.
• Contact Payroll to discuss Payroll deductions for unpaid time away from work, if applicable.
• It may be possible to have Unpaid days spread out over the course of your leave, if employee chooses.
• Payroll Contact: Jenny Sayles, 507-460-1905.
• Contact Benefits to discuss changes/additions to your policies during your leave.
• For birth/adoption, you have 30 days from the date of birth/adoption to add a child to your policy.
• Benefits Contact: Lisa Groth, 507-460-1906.

If FMLA or Medical Leave is approved, you will be required to use available allocations with the exception of 5 Sick Leave days.

If an employee has an FMLA related event during the summer months, the amount of medically necessary recovery time begins on the date the event commences through the time the medical provider certifies recovery to be complete. Sick Days will be applied for staff only during any contracted work days that occur during the medically necessary recovery period.

For Example:
An employee gives birth on July 4th and delivers via cesarean section. The doctor certifies the medically necessary recovery period to be eight weeks in length. The eight weeks of recovery begins on July 4th and ends on August 29th. The employee's contracted work days begin August 26th. Sick Days will be applied for August 26 through August 29th. Thereafter, the leave will be unpaid.

Employees may take 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year through FMLA guidelines for time away from work during their contracted work days. Using the example above, the employee's 12 weeks of leave would begin on the contracted work date of August 26th and go through November 15th, however only four days of the leave will be paid through use of Sick Days due to the medically necessary recovery period.