Family and Medical Leave Information
Under the family and medical leave act of 1993 (FMLA), eligible employees of the U.S. Postal Service are entitled to receive unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. Qualified medical and family reasons include: personal or family illness, pregnancy, adoption, or the foster-care placement of a child.
The FMLA is intended “to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families.” It allows eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to attend to the serious health condition of the employee, his or her parent, spouse or child, or for pregnancy or care of a newborn child, or for adoption or foster care of a child.
To be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have been employed by the employer at least 12 months, and worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the employer employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 amended the FMLA to provide two types of military family leave for FMLA-eligible employees: “qualifying exigency leave” and “military caregiver leave.”
Read more here: A GUIDE TO THE FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT [PDF]
FMLA Forms
The union has posted FMLA forms for use by healthcare providers to certify serious illnesses of APWU members and their family members. In accordance with an April 18, 2012, arbitration award, these forms are accepted by the USPS.
Certification by a Health Care Provider for the Employee’s Own Serious Illness:
APWU FMLA Form 1 - Complete Online Version [PDF]
Certification by a Health Care Provider for a Family Member’s serious Illness:
APWU FMLA Form 2 - Complete Online Version [PDF]
Certification by Employee of Qualifying Exigency for Military Family Leave:
APWU FMLA Form 3 - Complete Online Version [PDF]
Certification by a Service Member’s Health Care Provider for Caregiver Military Family Leave:
APWU FMLA Sample Forms
FMLA Resources
The following documents and links provide guidance and assistance for APWU members and representatives when applying the provisions of the FMLA to postal employees.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Questions and Answers
Your Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
Arbitration Award: USPS #Q06C-4Q-C 11001666 and Q06C-4Q-C 11008239
Arbitration Award: USPS #Q00C-4Q-C 02126262
Arbitration Award: USPS #H98C-4H-D 99290624
USPS and Department of Labor (DOL) Letters Regarding 1250 Work-hour Eligibility Requirement
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) FMLA Compliance Assistance site