FMLA Changes on the Horizon

It seems that the Bush Administration will be making some changes to the 15 year old Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) before they hand over the reigns next year. While the details of the proposed changes are not yet known, there is great anticipation that it will provide more clarity on definitions such as a ’serious health condition’.

Needless to say, organizations have been struggling with the administrative overhead this Act has caused. Since this act affects approximately 76 million workers, it is by all means, not a drop in the bucket.

Obviously the presence of clear policies and correct classification of employees is paramount, but strong Workforce Management solutions that help manage the administrative aspect of FMLA are just as important. A good Workforce Management application that includes support for Leave Management (including FMLA among other leave types) can help organizations better manage, track and report on Leave related activities.

Not only does this help them better plan their business and workforce requirements/scheduling, it lets them sleep better at night, knowing that all aspects are automated and documented. As we’ve seen with some recent law suits, having this documentation can save companies many millions of dollars.

So in addition to the benefits just stated, we can add the avoidance of negative publicity, a pretty great ROI, and the ability to let management focus on running and growing the business, not dealing with issues and law suits that could’ve been avoided.