Does my employer have the right to request a medical certification for FMLA leave?
Yes, if you are located in Florida, your employer has the right to request a medical certification for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. The FMLA is a federal law that allows certain employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons, including family and medical reasons. In order to access FMLA leave, your employer can require you to provide a medical certification to prove that the leave is being taken for a medical or family reason. The medical certification must include what the medical condition is, when it began, and how long the employee needs to be away from work. Employers can also require a second opinion from a doctor of their choice on the medical certification and the employee may be responsible for the cost of this. Employers may also require periodic recertification for employees on a leave of absence. If the employee disagrees with the additional certification, they can challenge the certification and the employer must respond to the challenge in writing. The employee also has the right to submit their own medical certification. In short, your employer in Florida does have the right to request a medical certification for FMLA leave, but you have the right to challenge the certification if you disagree with it.
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