Why does my work keep asking for recertification on my FMLA? My son has asthma, and once every couple weeks I

Question

get a call to go pick him up at daycare. My boss ahs a lot of issues with people leaving for child problems (she isnt a mother and has gone as far as firing people for leaving to care for a child) so when my sons asthma began I immediatly filed with HR for intermittant FMLA. My sons doctors filled out three certification forms already every 8-12 weeks they ask for a new one, on the last form he stated this is an illness that will continue through his childhood and gave 2009 as an end date. yet last week my hr department wanted the illness recertified. I filled out the paperwork and sent it in with the last doctors form since the end date he wrote isnt till 2009. But I got it back in the mail yesterday with the date next to the doctors name which was in late may circled and a note that I will need a new one. I have yet to use the 12 weeks aloud to me under fmla, since I only use a day ever few weeks. Why is this happening? I have sent a new form to the pediatrician to fill out, and he will be giving it back within 48 hours (hopefully, sometimes its a huge process to get a form filled out=()...But I just feel like I'm being a pain in the butt!

Answer 1

I would suggest you request a meeting with the HR person and ask them point blank what gives. What is it they want as you have provided all the forms for 12 weeks and yet you are still being

asked for more forms. If the forms that are being completed are not

satisfactory tell them to give you the form that will satisfy them. This

really sounds like harassment to me. talk about a family unfriendly

work environment. I live in Canada and we have laws to protect

parents from this type of problem. Your boss would never get

away with firing people for leaving work to care for a child!

Answer 2

Well, explain to your child's doctor the problsms you are having with your work, then go to the HR department and ask them exactly what they need - do they need it every time you miss a day?  Do they need it every certain amount of days?  Etc.

My mother had to take FMLA to help me and my infant son while I was coping with cancer - her's wasn't a day here or there, she left the state to live with us, but every time it went over the expected amount of time, she had to resubmit with a note from one of my doctors - they were all glad to help, and understood. They weren't even her doctor - they were mine, but they signed the notes no problem.

I would go directly to HR and find out exactly what they need so your boss doesn't have any excuses to fire you.  Keep your records and keep copies of everything you send in, then if there IS a problem, you have the proof that you did things right.

Also, make sure you note every time you are gone in a notebook and what happened with your son that day - what was his peak flow?  What treatments did you give or did the doctors give?  Did he go to the doctor, or did you do a nebulizer at home, etc...

That will help with your record keeping too.

Answer 3

I never heard of FMLA being taken a day at a time - that's probably the issue