What is an example of FMLA interference?

Asked by: Elfrieda D'Amore IV  |  Last update: November 12, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (17 votes)

Examples of FMLA interference include: Denying an eligible employee's request for FMLA leave. Changing an employee's position or duties because they requested or took FMLA leave. Imposing negative consequences or creating a hostile environment to dissuade employees from taking FMLA leave.

What is considered interference with FMLA?

An employer is prohibited from interfering with, restraining, or denying the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any FMLA right. An employer is prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against an employee or prospective employee for having exercised or attempted to exercise any FMLA right.

What are examples of FMLA discrimination?

Examples of FMLA discrimination include: Attempting to dissuade an employee from taking FMLA leave. Refusing to authorize an eligible employee's request for FMLA leave.

What are examples of FMLA abuse?

Here are five examples of FMLA abuse:
  • Chronic Monday/Friday Absences. ...
  • Unreported Secondary Employment. ...
  • Pattern of Intermittent Leave Surrounding Holidays or Special Events. ...
  • Failure to Provide Timely and Complete Medical Certification. ...
  • Excessive Use of Unplanned, Short-Term FMLA Leave.

What are some examples of FMLA?

An employee may take FMLA leave for qualifying exigencies including making alternative child care arrangements for a child of the military member when the deployment of the military member requires a change in the existing child care arrangement, attending certain military ceremonies and briefings, taking leave to ...

What is FMLA? | Real Life Retaliation Examples

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What triggers FMLA?

If you are faced with a health condition that causes you to miss work, whether it is because of your own serious health condition or to care for a family member with a serious health condition, you may be able to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected time off under the FMLA.

What is an example of a FMLA request?

Please be advised that I hereby request an FMLA leave for a period of (number of weeks) in connection with my serious health condition. The leave is to start on (date). Attached is my medical note reflecting the need for FMLA leave. Please let me know whether you approve this leave at your earliest convenience.

What is an example of FMLA for anxiety?

Example: Karen is occasionally unable to work due to severe anxiety. She sees a doctor monthly to manage her symptoms. Karen uses FMLA leave to take time off when she is unable to work unexpectedly due to her condition and when she has a regularly scheduled appointment to see her doctor during her work shift.

What are the damages for FMLA?

Those damages include back wages, also reinstatement to your prior position. If reinstatement is not a feasible remedy, you may be awarded front wages, and an additional category of damages under the FMLA is liquidated damages, which automatically double the amount of damages that you are entitled to.

What are the rules around FMLA?

Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles.

Is stress a FMLA condition?

Under the FMLA, employees who take stress leave must show that it is: (1) the result of a serious health condition, and; (2) that said condition makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job. There is no maximum time off for stress.

What makes a strong retaliation case?

What Makes a Strong Retaliation Case? A strong retaliation case has clear evidence linking an employee's protected action, like reporting harassment, to an adverse reaction from the employer. Demonstrating this connection can lead to a successful retaliation settlement.

What are 4 examples of unfair discrimination?

The following would be considered illegal discrimination if there is evidence that the decision was made based on a protected characteristic:
  • Sexual Harassment.
  • Refusal to Provide Services.
  • Unfair Lending Practices.
  • Misrepresenting the Availability of Housing.
  • Refusal to Allow “Reasonable Modifications”
  • Refusing Rental.

How to prove FMLA discrimination?

To establish an FMLA retaliation claim based on circumstantial evidence, a plaintiff must show: (1) she availed herself of a protected right under the FMLA; (2) she suffered an adverse employment action; and (3) there was a causal connection between the adverse action and protected activity.

What is wrongful interference with employment relationship?

Tortious interference is a common law tort allowing a claim for damages against a defendant who wrongfully interferes with the plaintiff's contractual or business relationships. See also intentional interference with contractual relations .

What can you not do while on FMLA?

It's fine to continue to work while you're on FMLA, as long as you're doing it voluntarily and not because your employer is forcing you. Another thing you can't do is lie to your employer about why you're taking FMLA. That's called fraud – it's going to get you fired.

What is an example of FMLA abuse?

If an employee's health condition prevents them from performing strenuous physical labor, for example, they may still be able to perform light office duties at a second job. But if their responsibilities at another job are similar to the role they're on leave from, this could indicate employee abuse of FMLA leave.

What are the elements of interference in FMLA?

To prove interference, the employee must show entitlement to leave (and that he or she gave proper notice); that the employer took adverse action against the employee that interfered with the ability to take leave; and that the adverse action was related to the taking, or attempting to take, FMLA leave.

How to win an FMLA lawsuit?

To win your case, you will likely need evidence to show:
  1. Eligibility: This evidence shows you worked for a qualifying employer for the required amount of time.
  2. Reason: This is evidence that your purpose for claiming the leave falls within the FMLA's specifications.

What is a real life example of FMLA?

Examples of When FMLA Leave Might Be Taken

Birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. Employee's serious health condition that keeps him or her from performing the essential tasks of his or her job. The serious health condition of an employee's family member.

What do I need to say to get FMLA for anxiety?

A chronic condition whether physical or mental (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, anxiety, dissociative disorders) that may cause occasional periods when an individual is unable to work is a qualifying serious health condition if it requires treatment by a health care provider at least twice a year and recurs over an ...

Can you be fired for missing work due to mental illness?

The Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA) protects employees from discrimination based on a disability—including mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.

What do you say when asking for FMLA?

However, you will need to give your employer enough information to know that your leave may be protected by the FMLA. You only need to provide medical information about the health condition for which you need leave. Your employer does not need to know your or your family member's medical history.

Why are doctors hesitant to fill out FMLA paperwork?

Because of doctors' workloads and the inability in many situations to render a precise prognosis about the frequency and duration of a condition, it can be a challenge when they have to complete patients' FMLA request forms.

Who approves FMLA?

After an employee returns the medical certification form, an employer has five business days to approve or deny FMLA leave.