FMLA for mental illness in fed gov?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have success with pursuing FMLA for a mental health disorder? I want to but am also nervous boss would judge.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure that your boss will know why you qualify for FMLA if you don't tell him. The FMLA paperwork goes to the appropriate administrative office, which will send out the approval. When I took FMLA for my child's health condition, all the approval said was that I was approved for FMLA for xx hours/month to care for my child with a serious health condition. You should probably confirm this with your own agency's HR staff, but I think they can't tell your boss why you're getting FMLA, only that it's approved.

Of course, your boss will probably expect you to tell him what's going on, so you should practice saying "It's a health issue that I'd rather not discuss," or something.

Good luck to you, and I hope that things look up soon.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I’ve seen it happen at my agency for severe bipolar/depression where the person had to be in a resident treatment program.

[Anonymous]

No, I have not heard of this.

[Anonymous]

What kind of disorder? If it’s just weekly therapy appointments I wouldn’t bother. If it is a stay in resident treatment, definitely. But if you’re just trying to get excused for sleeping in late on days you had insomnia - not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

For FMLA you'll need a form filled out and signed by a doctor, so I don't imagine that OP could use it for "sleeping in".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For FMLA you'll need a form filled out and signed by a doctor, so I don't imagine that OP could use it for "sleeping in".

You’d be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Let's not belittle OP and take her at her word that she is actually dealing with a medical condition. You can and should get FMLA if you need to take time off to heal and recover. As someone who has been debilitatingly depressed before, I sympathise with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of disorder? If it’s just weekly therapy appointments I wouldn’t bother. If it is a stay in resident treatment, definitely. But if you’re just trying to get excused for sleeping in late on days you had insomnia - not a good idea.

What should people do who have chronic insomnia or other issues that make it impossible to work standard business hours shifts? Go on disabiity and medicaid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of disorder? If it’s just weekly therapy appointments I wouldn’t bother. If it is a stay in resident treatment, definitely. But if you’re just trying to get excused for sleeping in late on days you had insomnia - not a good idea.

What should people do who have chronic insomnia or other issues that make it impossible to work standard business hours shifts? Go on disabiity and medicaid?

If your insomnia is that bad then yes you would be disabled. Also actual treatment for insomnia doesn’t involve sleeping in late. It’s the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I have an anxiety disorder, but it was well controlled for years. Worked 20 years without ever needing an accommodation. Then Elon. I started having random, debilitating panic attacks at work and couldn’t work and being under a microscope and not being able to work made them worse. It was a mess. And it was not a good time to take random, unscheduled sick leave or not be productive. So, I took intermittent FMLA leave. Written as 2-8 hours as needed for panic attacks. I figured minimal legal protection from random firing for sick leave abuse. My psychologist signed the form (and did t know until I explained it to her intermittent FMLA leave was allowed— benefits of a law degree).

Mine went through my manager, but was compartmentalized from almost everyone else in our agency. My manager was great— I’d been there 14 years and worked with her forever and what happened at our agency was the headline grabbing freaked everyone out stuff. But, by the time it was so bad I was having panic attacks, I knew I needed to leave for my own well being. I was ineligible to FORK or VERA as mission critical, so I bought some time. Easier to find a job when you have a job.

BTW— out, moved, new job, great decision to leave. And not a single panic attack at work since I have notice. Also — did you know not everywhere is as uptight and high pressure as the DMV? Go figure.

[Anonymous]

It’s going to depend. Were you an excellent worker to begin with? Or did you let it get so incredibly bad that you were put on a PIP and then brought the mental health issue up? Or claim FMLA when performance issues are brought up.

If you need FMLA- take it. But make sure it’s prior to poor performance.

[Anonymous]

When we were doing speech therapy, OT and psychiatry appointments for our DD to help manage her ADHD and anxiety her doctor offered to sign fmla paperwork. We didn’t need it, but I’d think appointments / care for adult mental health care would be a reasonable use.

[Anonymous]

I am assuming that OP doesn’t have a clearance - but if anyone reading this does and this question is relevant, remember you will have to report any treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we were doing speech therapy, OT and psychiatry appointments for our DD to help manage her ADHD and anxiety her doctor offered to sign fmla paperwork. We didn’t need it, but I’d think appointments / care for adult mental health care would be a reasonable use.

I think OP wants to take off weeks or months using FMLA for mental illness. What your doctor is referring to is when you take intermittent FMLA to attend appointments or control a symptom.