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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/6/2008 10:23 PM (GMT -7)
This came up on a different thread but I thought it might be helpful to many of you that live in the US. These are links to the US Department of Labor.

Here is some information on FMLA (family medical leave act): http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

Here is a link on ADA (American's with disabilities act): http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm  - go to the lin on Job Accommodations - that seems especially helpful, including a link to a group that helps people develop accommodations.

The state you live in may have additional protections so you may want to look at your state's department of labor site.

Your employer may have additional programs as well. But at minimum they need to meet these requirements.

I think it is important for eveyone with a health condition to know about this because often employers (managers) don't know or don't share and the employee ends up getting fired when they shouldn't have. Anyway, I hope you find it helpful.

Posted 4/7/2008 8:13 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks ever so much for posting this very valuable info! I've been employed full-time while combatting UC; during some periods it has really been difficult dealing with insensitive management. Last year I received the "reward" of one week's pay for only using 4 of my 30 allotted annual sick days during the previous 12 months. That really made my gastro happy when I brought my commendation letter from management along to an office visit! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 4/7/2008 8:55 AM (GMT -7)
I wonder if I would be covered by FMLA, since it says the employer has to employ 50 people. My office only employs about 9 or 10, but we are owned by a large corporation that employs thousands of people.

Thanks for posting this.
Posted 4/7/2008 10:49 AM (GMT -7)
Great info Val! Many thanks :)
Posted 4/7/2008 1:29 PM (GMT -7)
Sara it doesn't matter how many people are in your office, I think it's how many people are under their federal tax id number. I can't be 100% but I would look for info in that direction. For my co, we have have a few different offices in the US we share the same tax id#, so some of the reporting I know has to be done a certain way and also, our parent company is based outside the US and think that also impacts the size of my co's business in the eyes of the US Gov't.
Posted 4/7/2008 4:49 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks, Beth. I work at a small newspaper, but we are owned by a large company that owns several newspapers, many with more employees than the one I'm at. Maybe those would count. I will have to do some research to find out.
Posted 4/7/2008 11:10 PM (GMT -7)
Sara and Beth,

Actually the law says that there needs to be at least 50 employees employed by the employer within 75 miles. With that said, a lot of larger companies do follow FMLA even if they have employees that live outside that radius. I recommend you review your employee handbook, if your employer has one.
Posted 4/7/2008 11:11 PM (GMT -7)
Old Hat- where do you work???? That is an awesome benefit to get pay for only using some of your sick days. Unfortunately I think it would make me go to work when I shouldn't and put everyonelse in misery :)
Posted 4/8/2008 7:23 AM (GMT -7)
Val-- in a university division which has union representation. This "reward" was a negotiated incentive, just implemented last year. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

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