FMLA is here to help and protect you [View all]

[Savannahmann]

But you have to take advantage of it. FMLA is one of those things that must be invoked, like your right to an attorney. You have to tell the police you want to talk to a lawyer. You have to invoke your rights, otherwise the damned courts will decide that you waived them by not requesting it.

FMLA is one of those rights more people should be aware of. I was astonished that I was the only one who brought this act up during this thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024468857

FMLA is our first and best line of defense if you or a family member have a medical condition. Please take some time, read the information and take the forms to your Doctor. http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/

Get those forms filled out, and get them to your employer. Once you invoke FMLA it is a very strong protection for those of you who have children, or other dependents who need you to care for them from time to time.

But you have to invoke it. The employer is not going to tell you about how you can protect your job. The employers wish that this act didn't exist. Show them you're smart, and that you know your rights, give them the forms to protect yourself while caring for your loved ones.

The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:
Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).

My friends, you have rights you didn't know about, and I encourage you to learn about them and tell your friends and co-workers about their rights. Because together we can save each others jobs, and protect our families. But we have to take action to protect ourselves and our friends.

I have told co-workers about this act, and some of them have thanked me because they have family members with medical conditions. They have jobs now because I helped them by telling them of four pages of forms that need to be filled out by your Doctor. Most medical groups have a person who does these forms about once a week or so. I've asked my wife's doctors office and my own.

Protect yourself, save your jobs, they are hard to come by, and protect your families. Use the act the way we intended when we passed the thing under Bill Clinton.