What are acceptable reasons for a leave of absence from work?
This somewhat depends on your workplace.
However, certain reasons for taking a leave of absence from work are protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA.)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers can take up to 12 weeks of leave for these reasons:
The birth of a child and to bond with the newborn child within one year of birth.
The placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to bond with the newly placed child within one year of placement.
A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job.
To care for the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent who has a serious health condition.
Any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a military member on covered active duty.
To care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the employee is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of the service member (military caregiver leave).
Some important facts about FMLA:
It only covers employees of companies with at least 50 employees, and who have been employed at least 1 year.
The law grants job protection - which means that an employer must guarantee that the worker can come back to the same or to an equivalent job when they return from leave. It also requires that the employee’s group health insurance plan continue.
Employers are not required to pay the worker while they are on leave. However, employees may be able to claim partial wage replacement from Short Term Disability insurance or from a state-run benefit program.