HRM textbook

430 PART 4 COMPENSATION
Employers have expressed some dissatisfaction with the FMLA. In a survey of 416
human resource professionals, about half said they approved leaves they believed
were not legitimate, but felt they had to grant because of vague interpretations of the
law. 26 Tracking leaves was another problem. 27
FMLA leaves are usually unpaid, but they re not costless. The costs associated
with hiring temporary replacements, training them, and compensating for their lower
productivity can be considerable.
FMLA GUIDELINES Therefore, the manager who wants to avoid granting nonrequired
FMLA leaves needs to understand the FMLA. For example, to be eligible for
leave under the FMLA, the employee must have worked for the employer for at least
a total of 12 months and have worked (not just been paid, as someone might be if on
leave) for 1,250 or more hours in the past 12 consecutive months. 28 If these do not
apply, no leave is required.
FIGURE 13-3 Online Request
for Leave Form
Source: www.opm.gov/FORMS/PDF_
FILL/opm71.pdf, accessed April 28,
2009.