Can I take FMLA leave for my own illness?
Yes, you can take FMLA leave in Wisconsin for your own illness. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that requires employers with 50 or more employees to give employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for certain specified reasons, including for serious health conditions of the employee. In Wisconsin, employers must comply with the federal FMLA law as well as the state’s Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides for an additional 16 weeks of leave for an employee’s own serious health condition, including chronic or long-term conditions such as cancer and heart disease. In certain circumstances, such as when a family member is ill, or if an employee is a military veteran, the leave period may be extended to 32 weeks. Under the FMLA in Wisconsin, employees may take medical leave to care for themselves or a family member with a serious illness, or to cope with their own serious health conditions. This means employees can take FMLA leave for their own health conditions, such as a serious condition that requires an extended recovery period or treatment. The leave must be for medical reasons, and not simply for taking a vacation. Employers must allow employees to take FMLA leave for their own serious health conditions and must continue to provide health benefits during the leave period. Employees must provide sufficient notice to their employers before taking the leave and may have to provide written certification from a health care provider that the leave is medically necessary.
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