FMLA/Medical Leave

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.

Who is eligible for FMLA leave?

Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for Mansfield ISD at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months.

If you are not eligible for leave under the FMLA but work in a position that requires certification issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), visit the Temporary Disability Leave page.

What are the qualifying events for taking FML?

• The birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care;
• To bond with a child (leave must be taken within 1 year of the child’s birth or placement in 1 consecutive block);
• To care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a qualifying serious health condition;
• For the employee’s own qualifying serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the employee’s job;
• For qualifying exigencies related to the foreign deployment of a military member who is the employee’s spouse, child, or parent. For the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;

Intermittent FMLA Leave

Employees have the right to take FMLA leave all at once or when medically necessary, in separate blocks of time or by reducing the time they work each day or week. The district does not permit the use of intermittent or reduced-schedule leave for the care of a newborn child or for adoption or placement of a child with the employee.

Steps for requesting FMLA Leave

As soon as you know you need to take leave (at least 30 days for planned leave i.e. surgery, pregnancy), employees must notify the employer about the need for leave.

• Complete an FMLA Leave Request. Notification of FMLA eligibility will be given within five business days.
• Review the eligibility email, sent to the email you provide, along with more information that pertains to your leave of absence. Medical forms must be completed within 15 days of receipt.
• For personal illness, once you have been released to return to work, you are required to provide your doctor’s note to the Benefits Department. You must first receive the Return to Work (green) form, issued by the Benefits Department via email, BEFORE returning to your campus/department.

Please note, it is the employee’s responsibility to continue insurance policy premiums if the district is unable to deduct them from the employee’s check.