• FMLA: 2013 Final Rule Changes

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The U.S. Department of Labor issued amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act on February 5 that become effective March 8. ”There’s a host of changes, so let’s cover those that BLR’s resident FMLA expert, Susan Schoenfeld, JD, believes are the most important: ”(1) The definition of a “serious injury or illness” for military caregiver leave has been formalized by regulation that became effective March 8; ”(2) An eligible family member who has a qualifying exigency reason for taking “Rest and Recuperation” leave can now take up to 15 days; the former limit was 5; ”(3) Covered servicemembers now have more choices of physicians to certify a serious injury or illness; under the former rules the doctor had to be from the military healthcare system (Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, or TRICARE); now private physicians who otherwise authorize FMLA serious conditions can also certify qualifying conditions for covered servicemembers. "And there’s lot’s more….” Source: HR.BLR.com

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