Family Medical Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 requires the Newton County School System to provide up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during a 12-month period. All employees of the Newton County School System having worked at least 12 months and have 1,250 service hours in the 12 months before the start of leave are eligible for FMLA leave.

WHEN TO REQUEST FMLA
If you meet one of the qualifications, you may apply for FMLA. If you expect to be out of work in excess of five days, you must apply for FMLA. A 30-day notice of pending leave is required when the leave is foreseeable. Failure to submit a completed FMLA application (including supporting documentation such as medical certification) within 15 days of absence could result in automatic denial of FMLA.

FMLA grants qualified employees twelve weeks of unpaid leave every twelve months, which may be used for the purposes listed below:

  1. for incapacity due to the pregnancy, prenatal care, or the birth of a child;
  2. to care for the employee’s child after birth, or placement of a child by adoption or foster care;
  3. to care for the employee’s spouse, son/daughter, or parent with a serious health condition;
  4. for the employee’s own serious health condition;
  5. to take leave during a family member’s active duty due to a qualifying exigency; or
  6. to care for an injured service member with a serious injury or illness (up to 26 weeks).

The school system requires that any leave request based on a family member or employee’s own serious health condition be supported by an approved health care provider’s certification. Additionally, an approved health care provider’s release to return to work will be required for all employees who were on leave due to their own serious health condition.

Please note that the employee is also responsible for notifying the school/department of their absence and following their supervisor’s normal leave procedures. The employee should make a reasonable effort to schedule any treatment related to the serious health condition in a manner that will not unduly disrupt the operations of the school district.

INTERMITTENT LEAVE
An employee may take leave on an intermittent leave schedule where it is medically necessary due to the serious health condition of a covered family member, the employee, or the serious injury or illness of a covered service member, or when necessary, because of a qualifying exigency. NCSS will require a healthcare providers certification, in the form designed by NCSS, to document the necessity of such intermittent leave.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE (PPL)
Georgia House Bill 146 provides eligible employees up to 120 hours of Paid Parental Leave (PPL).

  • Eligible employees include those who are welcoming a new child to their family through birth, adoption or foster placement.
  • Employees shall be eligible for paid parental leave for qualifying life events after 6 months of continuous service.
  • Must be used within 12 months after the qualifying life event; regardless of the number of qualifying events during a rolling 12-month period.
  • A separate request must be submitted for paid parental leave after requesting FMLA.
  • Paid parental leave will run concurrently with FMLA.
  • Unused paid parental leave has no cash value.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FMLA

  • Employee can access FMLA requests on the eFMLA portal which is located on the HR Canvas Page, Launch Pad and NCSS Webpage. Your FMLA leave request can be completed in 3 easy steps.
    1. Request FMLA Leave
    2. Create a profile
    3. Submit
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