Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

In accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks or 480 hours of unpaid job protected leave, continuation of group health benefits, and reinstatement to the same or equivalent job upon return from leave, unless you are identified as a key employee.

An eligible employee may take up to 12 workweeks of FMLA within a 12-month period measured forward from the first date an employee takes FMLA leave. The next 12-month period would begin the first time the employee takes FMLA leave after the completion of the prior 12-month period. Leave granted under the FMLA will be counted against the annual 12-workweek or 480-hour entitlement.

Eligible employees may take up to 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness when the employee is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of the service member.

Under some circumstances, employees may take FMLA leave on an intermittent or reduced schedule basis.

Eligibility Requirements

An eligible employee is one who has at least 12 months of employment with the State of Arkansas within the last 7 years. The 12 months of employment do not have to be consecutive. In addition, the employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the beginning of the leave, and experienced an FMLA-qualifying event.

FMLA Qualifying Events

Eligible employees may take FMLA for one or more of the following qualifying events:

The birth of a child and to bond with or care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
The placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care, and to bond with or care for the newly-placed child within one year of placement;
To care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition, including incapacity due to pregnancy and for prenatal medical care;
For a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job, including incapacity due to pregnancy and for prenatal medical care; or
For any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a spouse, child, or parent is a military member on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status.

Requesting FMLA Leave

An employee should request FMLA by completing the Family and Medical Leave Request Form and FMLA Procedures Acknowledgement Form and submit the signed forms to the Department of Human Resources.

Medical Certification

Eligible employees must provide a complete Certification of Health Care Provider Form and submit to the Department of Human Resources within 15 calendar days. Failure to provide the certification may result in denial of FMLA until the completed certification is received. The University may request re-certification for continual FMLA usage.

In cases in which the University designates leave as FMLA, the employee will receive written notification of that decision.

Concurrent Leave

The FMLA does not mandate payment for leave. However, UA Little Rock requires employees to use any available accrued paid leave, which will run concurrently with FMLA.

Benefits and Leave Without Pay (LWOP)

For questions regarding your employee benefits while on leave, please contact the Department of Human Resources at 501-916-3180.

Returning to Work

If FMLA is granted for the employee’s own serious health condition, the employee must provide a statement from the healthcare provider stating that the employee is able to return to work. The medical release must be submitted to the Department of Human Resources on or before the return to work date. Any work restrictions must be identified on the statement and approved prior to returning to work.

Retaliation

FMLA protects employees from interference and retaliation for exercising or attempting to exercise their FMLA rights. In the event you are not eligible for FMLA leave, UA Little Rock has additional leave programs in which you may qualify.

For more information on FMLA and other leave options, contact the Department of Human Resources at 501-916-3180.

FMLA at a Glance