< Back to FAQs

Q: What do I do if an employee asks for an extended leave of absence (LOA)?

Contact Us

Call 858-715-5100 or EMAILfor assistance.

Ask The Expert

 

Q: What do I do if an employee asks for an extended leave of absence (LOA)?

A. There are several laws which provide employees unpaid time away from work such as FMLA, CFRA and USERRA. Familiarize yourself with these laws to ensure your employee(s) and you have met any necessary obligations.

When an employee has exhausted or does not qualify for any leave required by law, following are some suggestions to keep in mind.

  1. Create a clear policy that addresses all personal leaves of absence not required by state and federal law.
  2. Determine the need for extended leave.
  3. If the request seems reasonable, consider issues such as work reassignments, affect on individual departments and decrease in productivity, health insurance premiums, and conditions to which the employee will return.
  4. If approved, be sure to advise the employee that should business conditions change, their job is not protected and may change.
  5. And most importantly, although all situations will vary, apply consistently and uniformly to all employees.

More information can be found on www.dol.gov and your state department of labor website.

Our Mission

The mission of IES is to be a resource to our clients and employees, treating both with respect, and to ensure they are confident in our ability to provide accurate and timely payroll, invoicing, and benefits administration as the employer of record.

Sara Jensen