Opinion Issued in Case with Doctor’s Certification
Employees may take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to attend their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, according to a recent opinion letter from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Although DOL opinion letters are specific to the facts presented, employers can look to them for guidance on the DOL’s interpretation of the law.
In the letter, the DOL said the parent’s attendance at a school IEP meeting to address the educational and special medical needs of her children with serious medical conditions (as certified by a health care provider) is a qualifying reason for taking intermittent FMLA leave. The DOL noted that such attendance is “care for a family member … with a serious health condition” under the terms of the law.
Click here to read the DOL opinion letter in its entirety.
