Before your employee is expecting that bundle of joy, listen to this. So I got a call from a client the other day who advised me that one of their employees was advised them that they were pregnant. And so they wanted to know what is this FMLA? What is maternity leave? What do I have to do? What am I, am I compliant?
And so I explained to them, if you have 50 or more employees. Within a 75 mile radius, you are required by federal law to offer FMLA, which is family medical leave. If the employer does not have 50 or more employees, they still can have a maternity policy, but they are not required to keep the employee’s position open upon return.
Their policy can state that, but typically I recommend the policy should state that their job may be available upon return of leave because by law, they’re not required to keep the job open. And why is that? Smaller employers can’t afford to let people be gone for 12 weeks and not have that position replaced because they’re small.
There’s only one person doing that job. So it’s important to have those policies. It helps attract people, and it also keeps you compliant. Maternity leave? FNLA questions? Is it all so confusing to you? We can help with that. Give us a call.
