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February 6, 2013 marked twenty years since the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) was signed into law.  The United States Department of Labor recently published the results of a survey that collected information and opinions about the FMLA from employers and employees across the country.  According to the DOL, the survey results were positive, and indicate that the FMLA “continues to make a positive impact on the lives of workers without imposing an undue burden upon employers.”

Specifically, the survey results indicate:

• Nearly 60% of employees meet all criteria for eligibility and coverage under the FMLA.
• 13% of employees reported taking a leave of absence for a FMLA reason within the last twelve months.
• 24% of leaves taken under the FMLA are intermittent leaves.
• 91% of employers reported that complying with the FMLA either has a positive effect or no noticeable effect on employee absenteeism, morale, or turnover.
• 85% of employers reported that complying with the FMLA is easy, somewhat easy, or has no noticeable effect.

To read more about the results of the survey, click here.

If an employee goes on a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), does an employer have to reinstate the employee to the exact same position upon the employee’s return to work?  No, although in general, the employee must be reinstated to an “equivalent position.”

Upon returning from FMLA leave, employees are entitled to be returned either to their same position or to an “equivalent position.”  29 U.S.C. § 2614(a).  An “equivalent position” is defined as one that is virtually identical to the employee’s former position in terms of pay, benefits and working conditions, including privileges, prerequisites and status.  It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities, which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority.  29 C.F.R. § 825.215.  Even if the employee has been replaced or his or her position was restructured to accommodate the employee’s FMLA absence, the employee has the right to reinstatement to an equivalent position.

This said, a reinstated employee is not entitled to any more rights or benefits than those to which the employee would have been entitled had the FMLA leave not occurred.  Additionally, there are some specific circumstances when an employer may deny reinstatement.  Layoffs and shift changes are two more common situations where an employer may legitimately deny reinstatement, depending on the facts involved.  If an employer denies reinstatement, the burden is on the employer to prove that an employee would not otherwise have been reinstated to his or her employment.   

Takeaway:     Any time an employee is returning from FMLA leave, there are several things that an employer must consider if the employer intends to reinstate an employee to a different position or deny reinstatement entirely.  The FMLA requirements regarding reinstatement can be complicated, thus, a careful review of these requirements is necessary to limit legal exposure.