Managing FMLA--'It's a Nightmare'

Managing FMLA--'It's a Nightmare'http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/archive/2008/09/17/Leave_Policy_FMLA_Family_Leave_Preventing_Abuse_Management_Eligibility_Stacking.aspxAsk most HR managers what their biggest headache is, and about 90 percent say "FMLA." From eligibility to notifications to managing intermittent leave, it's an ever-present problem.en-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Debug Build: 60217.2664)re: Managing FMLA--'It's a Nightmare'http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/archive/2008/09/17/Leave_Policy_FMLA_Family_Leave_Preventing_Abuse_Management_Eligibility_Stacking.aspx#1104Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:38:08 GMTd41f1d89-8bcd-45c6-82d9-dc5c7ed081a0:1104HR ManagerIn my many years in HR (while working in companies with as many as 800 employees, or in much larger companies working with many colleagues who also handle FMLA), I've witnessed very few actual cases of FMLA abuse.  What I have seen are many casesre: Managing FMLA--'It's a Nightmare'http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/archive/2008/09/17/Leave_Policy_FMLA_Family_Leave_Preventing_Abuse_Management_Eligibility_Stacking.aspx#1105Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:58:23 GMTd41f1d89-8bcd-45c6-82d9-dc5c7ed081a0:1105Kristin SwansonYes, FMLA can be difficult to manage, but not for the reasons you've given here.  I disagree that FMLA is widely abused.  Probably less than 5% of our FMLA requests are even what I would call "questionable" much less abuse - and were: Managing FMLA--'It's a Nightmare'http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/archive/2008/09/17/Leave_Policy_FMLA_Family_Leave_Preventing_Abuse_Management_Eligibility_Stacking.aspx#1106Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:11:30 GMTd41f1d89-8bcd-45c6-82d9-dc5c7ed081a0:1106LaTeekey AndrewsAnother area to look for abuse is when the employee uses it to protect againt discplinary action.  It is difficult to manage intermittent leave when the is not enough advance notice especially in the transportation industry.  Kristin you are