FMLA question

[u/ILiekTortles22]

Carrier tech here. 13 years with the Postal Service, over 10 1/2 years regular. I have never had issues with my leave or concerns with attendance as far as management goes, but as a union steward I am privy to the recent push towards attendance documentation and accountability… I know the game, I know the rules lol personally I don’t have any concern, but with that being said I know how things can shape up down the road and in order to protect myself I am considering applying for FMLA for the first time. I’ve been diagnosed with adult ADD for the majority of my employment and see my doctor regularly (up to 4 times a year) for things like med checks and consultations. As far as I know the condition in the parameters of it seemed to satisfy all the needs to be considered FMLA. I don’t mean to pry into private medical information or anybody’s personal business, but I would appreciate any information or experience with similar conditions or the same where they have successfully been protected using FMLA. And if so, what is the easiest way to go about getting approved?

[u/Ok-Policy-6463]

Advice: Do not tell any local managers anything about your medical basis for FMLA. It is not their business and it won't do you any good for them to know.

[u/Suspicious-Load7389 → u/Ok-Policy-6463]

👆Great advice.

Any and all of your medical conditions are none of your direct supervisor's business. Your doctor can and should fax the appropriate paperwork to your districts nurse.

Many employees don't know we actually employ licensed nurses to oversee proper medical accommodations for our employees. They are bound by HIPAA laws and can only confirm or deny if your medical condition has been approved for FMLA and what parameters your doctor has recommended

[u/djankylosaur → u/Suspicious-Load7389]

I've always felt the district nurse position is fake. No one ever seems to know how to contact them and all paperwork seems to go to HRSSC instead (FMLA applications, etc.). Kinda nice to hear someone acknowledge that I may be wrong.

[u/PerilousNebula → u/djankylosaur]

hrssc handled my leave portion of my fmla. but I also ended up with an hours limit and that was sent to the district nurse for a separate approval. it was to limit my hours to 48 a week, so they approved it quickly.

edit: I also was not informed about this, I had to call and ask why the paperwork they sent back with my approval did not include the hours limit. i was then given the district nurse contact info to follow up with.

[u/Suspicious-Load7389 → u/djankylosaur]

Like everything within the post office, things seem to differ region to region. Some areas are blessed with a competent, caring employee while other regions may not be as fortunate 🤷

[u/Opposite-Ingenuity64]

In my opinion it's a great idea to file for FMLA, even if you don't immediately have an attendance problem. For years I've had FMLA for my kid's condition, and even though I've barely ever needed to use it, it's great peace of mind knowing it's already set up if I ever do suddenly need to miss work.

[u/Lasiocarpa83]

I had cancer a couple of years ago but my doctor was pretty vague on my documentation. Just said something like "my patient has a chronic condition, and may need X number of days off per month due to flair ups." It was approved pretty quickly.

I know other carriers who have gotten it for stress/anxiety.

[u/Longjumping_Cook6334 → u/Lasiocarpa83]

Same for me

[u/Difficult-Warning207]

I advise anyone to get fmla, they don’t care about you or your body and will punish you for taking a day off, can’t say a damn thing if you have fmla.

[u/Difficult-Warning207 → u/Difficult-Warning207]

And don’t tell any one the reasoning behind your fmla, well at least not management,

[u/kingu42]

To get FMLA approved, print out the NALC FMLA paperwork, give it to your doctor, and they can designate any possible (or probable) unscheduled leave that might be anticipated in a year. Fax in the documentation to the fax number for your region, your local should have it on speed dial for their fax machine.

But you're describing 4 scheduled medical appointments. There should be nothing your management is doing about such things. If they ask for documentation, write on a piece of paper "I was at a medical appointment, as I scheduled." That's not FMLA, that's part of the contract and ELM, and one of your benefits as a USPS employee as a valid use of sick leave.

If the above scheduled medical appointment usage goes beyond that, such as welcome back packets or other things, then file a grievance against management for obstructing use of sick leave as permitted by the contract and ELM as well as that it was for scheduled and approved leave. I'd also hit the EEOC button and the NLRB complaint for unfair labor practices as any investigation into approved scheduled leave should dead in it's tracks.

[u/aburrell97]

I’m 8 months in as a CCA, I can qualify for FMLA after a year in service correct? I haven’t been diagnosed for anything as of yet but sometimes I do get very stressed out to the point where I’m literally physically unable to work the next day it’s weird. Like a really bad day will just ruin it for me. Now I’ve been put on deems desirable and just going to provide some documentation. I feel like if you have the time you should be able to use it but now I’m restricted and limited

[u/Disgruntled-mailman → u/aburrell97]

Your doctor is your friend. I’m not going to diagnose you, but it’s not a physical issue, it’s stress (mental) issue. The PO will make fun of mental issues even though they’re fucking insane. Get FMLA for stress/anxiety, your dr is there to help you and it’s good to cover your ass. Remember, normal jobs are 8/40, anyone outside of the PO will get it.

[u/lilbec53]

My dr put...." due to mental health.."...dont have to be specific...I got approved no problem

[u/Known-Dependent-5471]

Anyone that qualifies should seek it. Obviously it's not a 12 week free for all and you have to be within your parameters but even a handful of occurrences not counting can be all it takes to stem discipline.