As some of you know, I took a leave of absence from work starting a couple weeks ago. The stress of a new position and the over stimulation of the retail environment coupled with my AV medication issues left me reeling and unable to get out of bed much less deal with the general public. I went through all the paperwork and communications to get myself covered with FMLA and all that jazz. There was a one week waiting period to get disability pay in which you would have to use up any remaining time off. I of course was at zero already. So that’s one week without pay. Things seemed to be going as planned, my doc got the paperwork back quickly, etc. Then yesterday I got an email that said that I’d been approved, but only for one week. This week ended on 26 MAR. They told me in order to apply for an extension I had to have all new doctor reports and paperwork in by 02 APR. So essentially that gave me one day, today, to make an appointment, go to it, have my doc send all reports and paperwork in etc before the holiday weekend. Talk about screwed. My boss actually called yesterday asking if I was coming back she they had received notice of my leave ending on the 26th. From what I gather if I don’t get an extension approved, I am not protected under FMLA from these recent days because that coverage ended on the 26th as well. Wish me luck!
To complete this post, I was able to get my doc to send a letter over requesting an extension, but it was in no way proof of an office visit. They did state that I started a new medication so I guess there’s that.
True. I'm just at a point of exhaustion right now with this whole thing. I'm tired of it taking pieces of my life away little but little. I know it's mind over matter to a degree but damn. My wife has been looking at getting a job. I'd hate for that to have to be the solution but if things don't change drastically real quick on my end that might be our only option.
That phrase says it all. Energy and will is all we have. And it gets depleted along the way with this MM. So tough. I hope for now at least your bureaucratic obstacles get smoothed out.
Wait, are you saying you’ve already used up 12 work weeks of unpaid leave(understandable, so the FMLA paperwork is merely covering that time off, or are they trying to deny you the ability to use the approved FMLA leave? Once you’re approved for FMLA, they have absolutely no right to tell you that after one week out of the twelve they expect you back.
No, I've only used 80 hours (2 weeks) so far. Rereadng the letter it gets more confusing. But I think you are right, I am protected by FMLA for 12 weeks but whether or not I get paid is another story. My issue is that they gave me basically 24 hours to get everything done on my end for an extension, which is BS. So far I haven't heard back after several attempts to ensure they have received the documents.
FMLA is only a guarantee of the 12 weeks. That’s Federal law. They do not have to pay you during FMLA. Also federal law. :-\
They can't approve you for only one week of FMLA. If you're approved for it, it's for 12 weeks and that does't mean you have to use all 12 weeks consecutively. You'll get paid as long as you have accumulated vacation or sick leave, but once that's used up, you're pretty much on leave without pay. If your company offers short term disability, that's another story.
The company that I was working for when MM started getting worse and because I started losing my balance and falling it was determined that I was a safety risk and I couldn't return until I was released from a doctor. I had only been with them for only 2 years and I really liked working for them. I used up all of my paid time off then HR helped me sign up FMLA and for short term disability then to long term disability. After the LTD was used up then I had no income. Under ADA they kept me informed as to new positions but if I didn't qualify for any they couldn't bring me back that was 5 years ago. I have a hard time with my wife working so much over time and doing 2 jobs to keep a roof over our heads. I did try to work but because I missed so much time it wasn't realistic to stay employed. I have signed up for SSDI that was 4 years ago and have been denied. I am going through the appeals process but my gosh they are slow. My problem with SSDI is I didn't have a doctor putting a diagnosis down at that time stating that I have MM. In a previous post I asked about depression and MM which I have had for many years. At present I'm seeing a therapist to help me cope I not only a fall risk but now I'm labeled a suicide risk. Wee this is fun. Finding this support web sit has been very informative. Stay strong everyone on here I have found to be great help and I have learned more here than doctors have told me. Sorry this has been long winded.