Question:
I had opened a claim to go out on a short term disability for 2/19/02 for about 4-12

then without notice my husband had a throbonephlebities issue and was out of work and may still need some care dr apps.+testing I spoke with supervisor about FMLA and the packet was sent to my home ASAP fmal is up to 480 hours. I was warned by a co-worker thet the comany will pull a fast one and say the fmla will run consecutive into short term combining the two.Legally can they do this? HELPI have tufts insurance.    — Brenda B. (posted on January 1, 2003)

January 1, 2003
I believe they can. FMLA is for you or anyone in your immediate family who needs medical care. Thus if you need to be off because of your husband's illness, then for your own, FMLA would continue to run between his illness and then yours. The hours for FMLA are cumulative throughout. I was on short-term disability and FMLA at the same time. Fortunately for me, my employer's STD is VERY, VERY good and I was paid at 60% of my regular salary for the 6 months that I had to be off work. I am not the typical person in needing that much time off. I had complications which stretched things out for me.
   — garw

January 1, 2003

   — mlovesh

January 1, 2003
Yes, it is legal. Most companies require employees to use their FMLA entitlement when they are out with a long illness or having surgery. I know my company requires all employees to use FMLA in conjunction with STD and it's stated in our employee guide. Read your company's STD summary plan description or the employee guide to comfirm.
   — Caroline R.

Click Here to Return