An employee tells a manager that they will be unable to work for several weeks because of a medical condition.
Which workplace rule applies?
It sounds like a simple question, but there may be more than one answer. Depending on the circumstances, the situation could involve the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers’ compensation, or a combination of them.
These programs are sometimes discussed as though they are different versions of the same thing. They aren’t.
Each exists for a different purpose.
Understanding that distinction is important because determining that one rule applies doesn’t automatically mean the others can be ignored.
FMLA: The Main Question Is Leave
The FMLA provides eligible employees