What is an example of a chronic health condition that is covered under the Family Medical Leave Act?
The FMLA Final Rules expanded the definition of a “serious health condition” to include periods of incapacity caused by “chronic health conditions”, even if the condition doesn’t require regular treatment by a health care provider and even if it causes an absence of less than three days. “Chronic serious health conditions” include asthma attacks, migraine headaches, pregnancy, epilepsy and diabetes. The FMLA Final Rules define a “chronic” condition as (1) requiring periodic visits for treatment by a health care provider (including a nurse or assistant under a physician’s direction); (2) continuing over an extended period of time (may include recurring episodes of one condition); (3) possibly consisting of periodic, rather than continuing, incapacitation (i.e., occasional absences due to morning sickness regardless of the length of time the employee is absent). These “chronic health conditions” are covered by the FMLA and if an employee is absent because of such a condition it can be co
