Leave Administration Challenges under FMLA

1. Leave Administration Challenges under FMLA • Sample comprised of 437 randomly selected HR professionals. • Analyzing 437 responses of 2868 emails sent, 2640 emails were received (response rate = 17%). • Survey fielded November 7 – November 13, 2006; presentation generated on November 14, 2006. • Margin of error is +/- 5%. Note: The number of respondents to each question is indicated by “n” in figures.

2. In the past 12 months, has your organization experienced challenges in administering/granting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for employees' serious health condition? n = 437

3. In the past 12 months, has your organization experienced challenges in administering/granting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for employees' serious health condition?

4. Which of the following serious health conditions did your organization experience challenges in administering/granting leave under FMLA? n = 222 Note: Percentage may not total 100% due to rounding.

5. Which of the following serious health conditions did your organization experience challenges in administering/granting leave under FMLA?

6. What specific challenge(s) has your organization encountered due to employees taking FMLA leave as a result of a catastrophic event (serious accident, serious injury, and/or life-threatening disease)? n = 89 Note: Percentage does not total 100% as multiple responses were allowed.

7. What specific challenge has your organization encountered due to employees taking FMLA leave as a result of a catastrophic event (serious accident, serious injury, and/or life-threatening disease)?

8. Other challenges organizations encountered due to employees taking FMLA as a result of a catastrophic event. • Unreturned requests • Multiple locations, not knowing employee is on leave • FMLA not long enough for employee's needs • Employees' unwillingness to apply • Difficulty getting health care professionals to return medical leave certification in a timely manner. • As an organization we have not tracked this well.

9. What specific challenge has your organization encountered due to employees taking FMLA leave as a result of a chronic condition (on-going injury, on-going illness, and/or non-life threatening condition)? n = 212 Note: Percentage does not total 100% as multiple responses were allowed.

10. What specific challenge has your organization encountered due to employees taking FMLA leave as a result of a chronic condition (on-going injury, on-going illness, and/or non-life threatening condition)?

11. Other challenges organizations encountered due to employees taking FMLA as a result of a chronic condition. • Having to reschedule patients due to the employee being off which impacts customer service. • We currently outsource to MetLife which is a hassle in and of itself! • We are a leasing company therefore it has been challenging to know when an employee has been out and in getting the documentation back from the employee • To pay or not to pay salaried individuals while they are on leave of absence. • Multiple locations, not knowing employee is on leave • Health care professionals not understanding the law or implications of vague or illegible documentation to the employee • Health care worker shortage. • Employees' unwillingness to apply • Difficulty getting health care provider to return the medical certification in a timely manner • Determining if we should keep the employee if out more than the allowed 12 weeks. • Abuse by employee to get time off for hunting/ vacation etc and no way to reign in