KemLaw

A common question employers ask about workers comp cases is “can an employer count an employee’s time out on workers’ compensation as family and medical leave as long as the employee is out for a reason that meets the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Acts) requirements?”

Yes.

State and federal FMLAs make it clear that an employer and/or an employee may choose to have the employee’s FMLA leave run simultaneously with a workers’ comp absence when the employee’s injury meets the “serious health condition” criteria of FMLA.

In most cases, an injury qualifying for workers’ compensation will, in fact, also qualify as a “serious health condition.” A serious health condition is defined under state and federal FMLAs as “an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves continuing treatment by a health care provider or inpatient care at a hospital or similar facility.”

If a workers’ compensation absence is also taken as a family and medical leave, an employer may not charge the employee for paid sick leave (or any other form of employee compensation) for the time off.

Employers that decide an employee’s workers’ compensation time is going to be considered a FMLA, must notify the employee in writing.

If you’re an employer with questions concerning workers’ comp and Family and Medical Leave issues, consider calling on the attorneys at Kainen, Escalera & McHale in Connecticut. We do one thing and one thing only – we are an employer defense law firm – in fact, we are one of the largest employer defense law firms in the region. What’s more, each of our attorneys has over 20 years of experience in employment law and labor law matters and can provide your business with comprehensive legal counsel ranging from assistance with necessary preventive measures to trial advocacy. Please contact us if we can help you.

The information provided above is made available by Kainen, Escalera & McHale, P.C. for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice to your individual circumstances or legal questions. You acknowledge that neither your reading of, nor posting on, this site establishes an attorney-client relationship between you and our law firm or any of the attorneys in our firm. This information should not be used as a substitute for seeking competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state nor is it provided.