What is FMLA?
The University of Florida values its employees and recognizes the challenges employees can face when it comes to balancing work and personal responsibilities, particularly when those responsibilities are related to the employee’s own health and the health of loved ones. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. View the FMLA Policy. The UFHR University Benefits, Central Leave team is available to support you through the FMLA process, provide additional information, and address any questions you may have at any time. Email us central-leave@ufl.edu or contact us at (352) 392-2477.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible for FMLA, you must meet these requirements:
- Have at least 12 months of employment (need not be consecutive) with UF; and
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours for UF during the 12 months prior to the start of the FMLA leave; and
- Have not exhausted your current FMLA entitlement.
What Qualifies for FMLA?
Only certain conditions qualify for FMLA, some of the most common ones include:
- You have a serious health condition
- You need to care for a family member (parent, spouse, or child) with a serious health condition
- You are unable to work for reasons related to pregnancy, prenatal medical care, or childbirth
- You are a new parent (this includes mothers, fathers, same-sex spouses) and you are taking leave to bond with your newborn, newly adopted child, or newly placed foster child
- You need to care for an armed services member who has become seriously injured in the line of duty; or for an emergency due to a family member’s active duty; or call to active duty in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces
Will I continue to receive pay?
The nature of an employee’s reason for taking FMLA leave will determine the type of leave they may utilize. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may take up to a total of 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period. While FMLA does not ensure a paycheck, you may be eligible to use accrued paid leave instead of unpaid leave for any portion of the 12 workweeks.
An employee’s FMLA leave will be one of three types:
The appropriate type of leave will be determined based on the information provided in the medical certification completed by a healthcare provider.
The ever changing nature of an employee’s reason for taking FMLA will determine the type of leave they are on at any given time. An employee’s leave type may change throughout the course of their FMLA entitlement period.
Ready to start the FMLA Process?
To get started with the FMLA process or for eligibility questions, fill out the Extended Leave of Absence Request Form or contact us at 352-392-2477.
Check out the next steps in the FMLA process by viewing the FMLA Employee Process Map.
This and all FMLA related UF websites are intended to be a summary explanation of employee rights and responsibilities and every effort is made to provide accurate information. However, if there are any inconsistencies between the information on these websites and the FMLA, the FMLA controls.