Is an employee required to pay for health benefits while on FMLA leave?
No, employees are not required to pay for health benefits while on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave in Florida. According to the United States Department of Labor, employers must maintain group health insurance coverage for an employee taking FMLA leave in the same manner as if the employee had not taken leave. This means that employers must continue to provide health insurance and cover the employee’s portion of the premium during FMLA leave. Employees do not have to worry about paying premiums to remain covered during FMLA leave. In addition, employers are prohibited by law from requiring employees to use any accrued paid time off or vacation time for FMLA leave. The FMLA law does not require employers to pay employees while they are on FMLA leave. If the employee is eligible for unpaid FMLA leave, the employee will have to rely on other sources of income, such as vacation pay, sick pay, or other accrued benefits, during the leave. If an employee does not have any accrued benefits, he or she may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the leave. Though the FMLA law does not require employers to pay for health benefits during a leave, they must continue to provide health insurance coverage at the same level as if the employee had not taken leave. This means that employers may not require employees to pay any premiums or increased premiums due to the leave.
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