FMLA rights

[mamakat]

Hi all!

I'm looking for some opinions and maybe a little expertise on FMLA rights. I am on it intermittently because of my aneurysms and frequent headaches. But recently I found that my blood pressure medication of 14 years stopped working and my blood pressure skyrocketed!!! !87/118. I went to the Doc who treated me with 4 different meds to get it down. One of which is clonidine and it rendered me unable to drive let alone do my job. Then I brought in a slip saying it was for the FMLA and my bosses stated no it has nothing to do with your aneursyms. And these people are nurses! I am perplexed and already have started my own investigation on the whole thing. Any suggestions? I have already looked at the regulations surrounding it all and believe I am in the right. I talked to the wage and hour division and they said all I have to tell them is Im taking an FMLA day and they can't touch me nor do I have to come up with an excuse from the doc????

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thx Kat

[dawnmn]

Kat,
I think you are right about claiming the FMLA but I think you do have to have a doctor's note saying why you will be out for medical. Just remember I'm no expert I just remember having to have a note whenever I claim the FMLA leave.

Good luck,
Dawn

[Kyria Dylan]

Hi. i took clonidine for awhile and it knocked me out! i could not stay awake no matter how hard i tried. it did lower my blood pressure,but i asked the doc. to put me on something else went with lotrel. i have a question...what is FMLA?

[heartland]

Sorry, I'm no help to you Kat, but good luck to you.

To answer Kyria's question though. The FMLA is the Family Medical Leave Act.

Lisa

[agt]

The doctor certifies that it is FMLA and your employer has to follow what the doctor says. The employer only determines how much time you have used and how much time you have left.

Anne

[mamakat]

I was right. I called the division in our state capital and talked with a fellow that stated "For all intense purposes, share as little information as possible. Just call in FMLA and the fact that you have a certificate on file for FMLA is excuse enough. That I don't always need a Doctors excuse everytime I call in." I think they were trying to see how much I would fight this. Put feelers out, as this particular company in known for getting rid of people with chronic conditions, even though thy're in the rehab business to restore patients to there full potential to return to living as best as can be, excluding their employees. They let a nurse go when she was Dx with MS and another when she got a severe back injury on the job. The didn't fight back??? Hmmmm?? I guess I'll have to start watching my back.

Thanks for all the help. It was tough going and didn't help my blood pressure at all!!!! Kat