Am I understanding FMLA correctly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1. Paid leave in this country is an employee benefit offered by few employers. The DC council bill would change that, but it is really struggling in council right now because of the fiscal impact. If you see this as a priority (I know I do!), the best thing you can do is contact your council person and let them know this is an important issue to support.

http://www.dcpaidfamilyleave.org/ (I'm not involved in this campaign.)

I'm for paid leave, but the problem with it being implemented in this way, in DC only, is that any employer who can will leave DC and go to a surrounding area. Those who can't leave are often government or public service entities (DCPS, etc) and the burden unduly will fall to taxpayers to cover. We need paid leave implemented at a national or at least multi-state level so employers can't flee as easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

You're a jerk, PP. Most dual-income families in this area need both incomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

You're a jerk, PP. Most dual-income families in this area need both incomes.

I don't understand this. Can't you just limit your rent/mortgage to one income? It seems like if you can't do this then you're living in an area you can't afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

Are you expecting your first? Get ready to be really depressed about the many ways that this country plays lip service to the importance of family and family values and does practically nothing to support those of us who have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

You're a jerk, PP. Most dual-income families in this area need both incomes.

I don't understand this. Can't you just limit your rent/mortgage to one income? It seems like if you can't do this then you're living in an area you can't afford.

Maybe her income is the income they live off of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1. Paid leave in this country is an employee benefit offered by few employers. The DC council bill would change that, but it is really struggling in council right now because of the fiscal impact. If you see this as a priority (I know I do!), the best thing you can do is contact your council person and let them know this is an important issue to support.

http://www.dcpaidfamilyleave.org/ (I'm not involved in this campaign.)

I'm for paid leave, but the problem with it being implemented in this way, in DC only, is that any employer who can will leave DC and go to a surrounding area. Those who can't leave are often government or public service entities (DCPS, etc) and the burden unduly will fall to taxpayers to cover. We need paid leave implemented at a national or at least multi-state level so employers can't flee as easily.

The current dc fmla does not apply to federal workers nor would I expect this bill to. Fed workers will never get paid leave unless the majority of workers in the US get it via state or federal programs.

But it's a good start. I highly doubt the k street lobby, law firms, or even the non-profits would relocate over this. Dc employers generally need to be located here or they would already be in a cheaper COL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

Wow. It's amazing how disconnected you are from the reality that most people in this region face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

Wow. It's amazing how disconnected you are from the reality that most people in this region face.

I must be. We would never take on rent or a mortgage we couldn't pay using only one salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

Wow. It's amazing how disconnected you are from the reality that most people in this region face.

I must be. We would never take on rent or a mortgage we couldn't pay using only one salary.

This is crazy. I mean - great, if that's what you can do. But I don't know many couples who could afford their house on just one income. And this is certainly not a standard for buying a house. It's a big issue in this area because housing is so expensive but even outside the wealthy DC area bubble - the reality for homeowners across America is that they need two incomes to make ends meet. You have incredible privilege for being able to afford your rent/mortgage with just one salary - but please recognize your privilege there - most people don't CHOOSE to buy a home/rent a place that requires two incomes, they just don't happen to make enough $ to be able to afford to buy their house on just one salary. And people who are single parents often rent instead of buy for this very reason. Or rent in areas that are further away or in worse neighborhoods just to make this work. Or they receive subsidized housing. Your reality is far from that of most people in the country, much less this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

Wow. It's amazing how disconnected you are from the reality that most people in this region face.

I must be. We would never take on rent or a mortgage we couldn't pay using only one salary.

This is crazy. I mean - great, if that's what you can do. But I don't know many couples who could afford their house on just one income. And this is certainly not a standard for buying a house. It's a big issue in this area because housing is so expensive but even outside the wealthy DC area bubble - the reality for homeowners across America is that they need two incomes to make ends meet. You have incredible privilege for being able to afford your rent/mortgage with just one salary - but please recognize your privilege there - most people don't CHOOSE to buy a home/rent a place that requires two incomes, they just don't happen to make enough $ to be able to afford to buy their house on just one salary. And people who are single parents often rent instead of buy for this very reason. Or rent in areas that are further away or in worse neighborhoods just to make this work. Or they receive subsidized housing. Your reality is far from that of most people in the country, much less this area.

Right but many couples could buy or rent a house on one income. They just don't want to do so because they want a nicer house. We all make choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The part this is depressing about this to me is the idea of leave without pay. I know many people on this board are in high income families, but I'm guessing many of us are not. The flexibility of getting off work with no pay is like a fairy tale to me. My family needs my income. Hell, they could give me 6 months off, I wouldn't be able to take it if it was unpaid. Thanks to the PP who posted the DC bill link. I definitely am reviewing that now.

If you're using the second income to pay for essentials and housing there is a problem. You took on too high of housing costs or had too many children.

If you think that needing two incomes is a sign of overextending, that says more about you than it does about her concerns.

Wow. It's amazing how disconnected you are from the reality that most people in this region face.

I must be. We would never take on rent or a mortgage we couldn't pay using only one salary.

This is crazy. I mean - great, if that's what you can do. But I don't know many couples who could afford their house on just one income. And this is certainly not a standard for buying a house. It's a big issue in this area because housing is so expensive but even outside the wealthy DC area bubble - the reality for homeowners across America is that they need two incomes to make ends meet. You have incredible privilege for being able to afford your rent/mortgage with just one salary - but please recognize your privilege there - most people don't CHOOSE to buy a home/rent a place that requires two incomes, they just don't happen to make enough $ to be able to afford to buy their house on just one salary. And people who are single parents often rent instead of buy for this very reason. Or rent in areas that are further away or in worse neighborhoods just to make this work. Or they receive subsidized housing. Your reality is far from that of most people in the country, much less this area.

Right but many couples could buy or rent a house on one income. They just don't want to do so because they want a nicer house. We all make choices.

Hey all, I'm digging that Jeff made this a sticky topic, because it has lots of important info. Maybe we can continue this conversation in a spin off thread, so the important info doesn't get lost in this discussion? All for continuing this discussion because I definitely have opinions on it, but just not here. Anyone with me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.lawhelp.org/files/7C92C43F-9283-A7E0-5931-E57134E903FB/attachments/B2DED09B-F60E-7CD5-001B-C071AFD8DF10/205831FMLA%20Fact%20Sheet%20(Eng).pdf

There's medical leave, which you already took, and family leave, which you are presumably on now. Each is up to 16 weeks. So can be as much as 32 weeks in total.

No, no, no!

DC FMLA is 16 weeks. You can 16 weeks, but your paid 6 weeks counts as the first 6 weeks. The rest may be unpaid, if your employer doesn't offer additional paid leave.

VA is 13 weeks, one additional week to the Fed FMLA. I took 16 weeks off, an additional 4 unpaid weeks, with the consent of my employer and went back part-time. All this was arranged beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Federal FMLA is 12 weeks. New Jersey, for example, offers 24. You don't get 12 + 24, you can take up to 24 weeks, of unpaid leave to hold your job.