Posted by Snowie on September 12, 2000, at 20:13:30
In reply to Re: Kinda worried Mark H., posted by Phil on September 12, 2000, at 8:00:35
I also understand where Mark is coming from (and, by the way, IMHO the info he gave Allison to send to her employer in the event she chooses to decline the leave was excellent), but there are other considerations. Unless a person has a lot of vacation time saved up, FMLA is unpaid leave. In addition, most employers don't pay an employee's medical insurance while the employee is out on FMLA leave. Medical insurance isn't cheap, especially when you don't have a regular paycheck coming in for 12 weeks.
There is comfort knowing that you do have certain rights under the FMLA. However, many employees are terminated once their FMLA leave is up ... it happens all the time (I work for a labor and employment law attorney ;-) ... we represent the crooked companies). All the employer has to say is that the employee would have been terminated whether or not he or she had taken the FMLA leave (for instance, reduction in workforce). Here's more info about the Family & Medical Leave Act.
http://www.nationalpartnership.org/workandfamily/fmleave/questions_answers.htm
Snowie
> > Likewise, a person may not be discriminated against for having a physical or mental illness, and employers are required to make reasonable accommodations where possible -- but they need to know it exists.
> >
> >
> > >Mark H. I agree and see wisdom in your approach BUT this discrimination with mental illness is very tricky. Listening to NPR several weeks ago they interviewed two people who suffered from dep. and the other bipolar.
> One, a very successful VP of advertising for a major corp. was allowed to keep his title and pay after undergoing ECT, but his authority was nil.
> This was in a creative profession where many of his coworkers were depressives and on meds. Guess the co. drew the line at ECT.
> He changed jobs.
> I agree with the wisdom of your approach but there are some very creative ways that companies can SCREW YOU and get away with it. When it comes to M.I., there are very few companies you can trust, laws or no laws. You can bet your ass on that.
>
> My 2 bits,
> Phil
poster:Snowie
thread:469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/510.html