Earlier this year at an FMLA seminar, I was asked a lot of questions about medical certification.   A recent post on FMLA insight reminded me of the questions and some of the pitfalls of incorrectly completing medical certification.  The title of the other post was “No soup for You!” If an Employee Doesn’t Turn in Medical Certification, FMLA Leave is not protected.” You can click the link and read, but I think you can glean the take home point from the title.   So what should you do? 

The Department of Labor published a new FMLA guide for employees.  Find it here. It provides a lot of helpful information.

Recently, I presented to the Utility Works Union on the Family Medical Leave Act.  There were many questions.  Many of the questions dealt with certification of the medical leave.  After the break is the video posted to YouTube by the UWUA.  

It's application may be more confusing than it may seem.  Anecdotal evidence (small sample that may not be the same as everyone else's experience) suggests that employers and employees are having plenty of disagreements about what, when, and how of the medical information under the FMLA.
If you want to take FMLA, there is certain information that your employer can request you provide. It will depend what types of FMLA you will be taking, but if you are taking FMLA for your own serious medical condition then you will need to provide medical information.