Labor Department Study Affirms That FMLA ‘Is Working as Intended’
A Department of Labor study released June 27 confirms what most Americans already know, that “family and medical leave is good for workers and their families, is in the public interest, and is good workplace policy.”
This conclusion is a victory for the labor movement,” said Legislative Director Myke Reid. “The DOL’s request for information caused concern among unions because the agency, which implements workplace rules for the FMLA, has used its regulatory authority in the past to weaken workers’ rights.”
Employers had seized on the Department of Labor request in an attempt to undermine the FLMA, Reid noted, asserting that the agency should limit the definition of a serious health condition; demand more frequent reviews of FMLA conditions; restrict the definition of eligible employees; eliminate intermittent leave, and rescind a provision of the act that requires supervisors to get an employee’s permission before contacting his or her doctor.
But unions, workers, and advocates for family-friendly policies carried the day. Summarizing the 15,000 comments that the department received from workers, employers, and other interested parties, Lipnic said, “ The Department is pleased to observe that, in the vast majority of cases, the FMLA is working as intended.”
“Normally, the organization of comments received in response to a Departmental Request for Information would first be seen accompanying proposed changes to the rules,” Lipnic wrote, but “There are no proposals for regulatory changes being put forward by the Department with this Report.”
“Employers used the request for information in an effort to impose more restrictions on a worker’s right to use leave under the FMLA,” said APWU President William Burrus. “But unions and other parties submitted thousands of statements in support of this law, which we fought so hard to pass. We are pleased that the report recognizes that the FMLA is accomplishing its goal — giving workers the ability to fulfill family responsibilities without jeopardizing their jobs.”
So many of the postal workers I work with MISUSE the fmla law so they can be absent whenever they want to. Its funny because they never call out except during M-T so they can be sure to get their 6th day!!!! They all need to be re-evaluated or at least make it hard on them. Bring in extra documentation or something. To most of us, its so obvious that its being misused…and the rest of us get Letters of Warning for our absentees! Not fair!
Please the post office discriminates against people who use fmla adn the APWU helps them. I know as I used FMLA leave for my child and me due to strees and the Union shop Steward would not help me. As far as I can see the union is full of it and so is Burrus.
Yeah right…like there isn’t a high percentage of slackers using this so they can be late, slack off and let the rest of us do their job. BTW if your working and still “poor” may I suggest getting another job and learn how to handle money. Ta ta to the great unread.
Bush is only about BUSINESS and that’s all. He doesn’t understand poor people and their struggle. Because he has never had to struggle. When you come from money then you never wonder where the next dollar is going to come from.
Funny how so many people believed Bush from the start and now wish they had not voted for him. I, for one, did NOT vote for him. He’s always been like a sheet of plastic to me, you can see right through him …………..
How many letter carriers voted for Bush? What will they think of him when he vetoes the bill currently moving through Congress that would prohibit contracting out city delivery?
Hey all you idiot union members who voted for Bush…do you still think he’s a friend of yours?