U.S. Department of Labor Issues New FMLA Forms

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on August 10, 2020 In July, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor released new model forms employers can use for leaves that employees take pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). The Department has developed the optional-use forms which can be used by employers to provide required […]

U.S. DOL Opinion: Employers Must Designate Leave as FMLA

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on June 8, 2019 In a recent Opinion letter of the United States Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) (FMLS 2019-1-A, March 14, 2019), the U.S. DOL made clear that employers and employees cannot delay the start of Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) leave. The Opinion was in response to […]

NYC’s “Parental Empowerment” Bills Become Law

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on December 8, 2018 Effective March 18, 2019, the New York City Human Rights Law will be amended requiring New York City employers with 15 or more employees to provide their employees with reasonable unpaid or paid break time and a private space to express milk.  Under the new […]

New York Paid Family Leave Changes in 2019

As you are aware, effective January 1, 2018 New York State enacted New York Paid Family Leave (PFL). As part of the implementation, PFL benefits are phased in over a four-year period. 2019 will mark year two of the implementation and PFL benefits will be significantly enhanced. Beginning January 1, 2019, the number of weeks […]

U.S. DOL Releases Updated FMLA Notice and Certification Forms

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on September 8, 2018 On September 4, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division released new model Family Medical Leave Act (FMLS) notices and certification forms.  The new versions have not changed substantively with the exception of the updated expiration date of August 31, 2021. Nevertheless, […]

DOL Finds that Employer’s No-Fault Attendance Policy Does Not Violate FMLA

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on September 1, 2018 On August 28, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL) released an Opinion letter addressing whether an employer’s no-fault attendance policy violates the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The policy effectively freezes, throughout the duration of an employee’s FMLA leave, […]

New York State Legislature Passes Bill to Add Bereavement to Paid Family Leave

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on July 10, 2018 On June 20, 2018, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed a bill which proposes to amend the New York Paid Family Leave Act (NYPFL), by adding bereavement as a qualifying leave event. If signed into law by the Governor, the bereavement leave amendment […]

New York Paid Family Leave Act Goes Into Effect January 1, 2018

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on August 29, 2017 On January 1, 2018, the New York Paid Family Leave Act (“PFLA”) goes into effect. The PFLA allows employees to take paid family leave for a number of situations, including the birth of a child, placement of a child in adoption/foster care situations, to care […]

Employer’s “Honest Belief” Defeats FMLA Retaliation Claim

Submitted by Ali Law Group PC on February 7, 2017 On January 31, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit joined the Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Circuits in holding that an employer’s honest belief that its employee was misusing FMLA leave can be enough to defeat a retaliation claim under the […]