Do the 12 months of employment have to be continuous or consecutive?
No. Any time worked for the employer is counted as long as one has worked at least 1,250 hours for the employer in the previous 12 months. • Do the 1,250 hours include paid time off or other absences from work? No. The 1,250 hours only include those hours actually worked for the employer. Paid and unpaid leave, including FMLA leave, are not included. • Who is considered an immediate family member for purposes of taking FMLA leave? Immediate family members are the employee’s spouse, children, and parents. This does not include parents-in-law or children over the age of 18 unless they are “incapable of self-care” because of mental or physical disabilities. When taking time off to care for an injured or ill member of the Armed Forces, an employee may also be the “next of kin” to the person in need of care (Public Law [110-181]). • What serious health problems qualify under FMLA? A serious health problem includes illnesses, injuries, impairments, or physical or mental conditions that inclu
