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Fmla Negatives

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The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
INTRODUCTION
Public policies have an effect on families that are irrefutable. Among other things they regulate conditions of employment, define eligibility to certain benefits, provide health and education services, and define the responsibility and rights of parents. In this paper, research is done on a selected White House Issue pertaining to the public policy on the Family Medical Leave Act. An overview is given of the issue with the recommendation of the type of public policy that supports the issue. Suggestions for modifications that may positively or negatively impact the outcome of the issue will be discussed, along with a few suggested methods the Constitution addresses in the role of government within business …show more content…

Employees who have not worked for a covered employer for more than 12 months or 1,250 hours are deemed not eligible for FMLA. One modification to the policy would be to allow these employees the same benefit as if they have been employed for the 12 months. This would be a positive impact on the policy by giving employees who ordinarily cannot afford to take a leave without pay. Under the FMLA, with the suggested modification, employees could use paid leave. Another positive modification would be to extend the ‘during the 12-month period’ to ‘during the 24-month period’; which states that an employee can only take FMLA once within the 12-month period (for non-military reasons) if the 12 weeks have been exhausted. According to the US Dept. of Labor; “eligible employees may take up to 12 workweeks of leave in a 12-month period” (The Family Medical Leave Act - Wage and Hour Division (WHD), 2012). Some leave may require an employee to use repeated family medical leave such as, caring for a child with a terminal illness (cancer, multiple sclerosis). One modification that could have a negative impact on the modification of FMLA would be if the extended time is approved and the employee uses the paid leave and does not return to work. This would mean that the company, who has held the position for the employee, now has to seek others to fill the position, and the company has lost money. Benefits were paid on behalf of the employee and life insurance policies were kept active. Additional record keeping is required, and coordination of benefits per policies. Other negative impacts from policy modification could include excessive absenteeism, decreased productivity, moral problems, and inability of co-workers to balance their own work and family demands. “Although the FMLA was intended to provide job security, it may have just the opposite effect if excessive absenteeism jeopardizes an employer’s relationships and

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