What is the difference between FMLA and short-term disability?

FMLA, or the Family and Medical Leave Act, is a federal law that provides employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for a family member or themselves due to a serious medical condition. The employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and have put in 1,250 hours of work in order to be eligible. Short-term disability, on the other hand, is a benefit offered by some employers that provides a set amount of compensation to eligible employees in the case of a serious illness or injury. The amount of time covered and the amount of compensation provided depends on the employer’s policy. Short-term disability is typically paid leave and may be available for a few weeks or months at the most. The main difference between FMLA and short-term disability is that FMLA provides unpaid leave while short-term disability provides paid leave. Additionally, FMLA is only offered to employees who have worked for the employer for a certain amount of time, whereas short-term disability may be available to all employees with no service requirement. It’s important to note that not all employers offer short-term disability, so it’s important to check with your employer to find out what benefits are offered.

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