12-13 Employee Handbook Cover.psd - Southwest ISD

Employees must provide sufficient information for the employer to determine if the leave
may qualify for FMLA protection, the anticipated timing and duration of the leave.
Sufficient information may include that the employee is unable to perform his/her job
functions, the family member is unable to perform daily activities, the need for
hospitalization or continuing treatment by a health care provider, or circumstances
supporting the need for military family leave. Employees also must inform the employer if
the requested leave is for a reason for which FMLA leave was previously taken or certified.
Employees also may be required to provide a medical certification and periodic
recertification supporting the need for leave.
Employer Responsibilities
The District will inform the employees requesting leave whether they are eligible under
FMLA. If they are, the notice will specify any additional information required as well as
the employees' rights and responsibilities. If they are not eligible, the District will provide a
reason for the ineligibility. Employees will be informed if leave will be designated as
FMLA-protected and the amount of leave counted against the employee's leave entitlement.
If the employer determines that the leave is not FMLA-protected, the employee will be
notified.
Requests for FMLA
When the need for family and medical leave is foreseeable, employees must provide 30
days advance notice to the district. If 30 days' notice is not practicable, because of not
knowing approximately when leave will be required to begin, a change in circumstances, or
a medical emergency, notice must be given as soon as practicable. When the need for
leave, or its approximate timing, is not foreseeable, employees must provide notice to the
district as soon as practicable under the facts and circumstances of the particular case or
other electronic means. Employees must contact the Benefits Department at 210-622-4330
as soon as it is known that family and medical leave will be needed. Employees may be
required to provide the following:
• Medical certification from a qualified health care provider supporting the need
for leave due to a serious health condition affecting the employee or an
immediate family member
• Periodic recertification of the need for leave
• Periodic reports during the leave regarding the employee’s status and intent to
return to work
• Medical certification from a qualified health care provider at the conclusion of
leave of an employee’s ability to return to work
• Certification of the need for family military leave
The district may require a medical certification issued by the health care provider of the
spouse, child, parent, or employee that the employee is needed to care for or, in case of
leave for the employee's condition, that the employee is unable to perform the functions of
Southwest ISD Employee Handbook 34
August 15, 2013