FMLA and Invitro Fertilization

elliebrim

My eyes are getting burned out trying to find out if this has been addressed somewhere in the forum...Has anyone had the request for Intermittent Leave for Invitro Fertilization? From my understanding of this there are no overnight stays in the hospital but may require several unplanned trips to the hospital for ultrasounds and other procedures that the ee may not be able to work for a few days because of resrictions. She doesn't want to take a LOA because it would be without pay. Your comments please. Thanks. EB

hr92175

I assume it could be considered a serious health condition if she is unable to work. I do see a lot of employees not wanting to take FMLA for that very reason. Do you have a policy that requires ee's to use vacation and sick leave first before thier unpaid time kicks in? If not, it should be considered medical leave. I know she doesn't want to take it, but tough tulips (that's a professional HR term ya know!)

HRinVA

So, did you qualify it as FML? I've just received a request for FML for an employee's spouse who will have in vitro. We found this article (below) that indicates it would be covered. I'm not very knowledgeable about the procedures involved, it seems like it would only be a day or two? Does anyone know more about this.

[url]http://www.rgl.net/pdfs/reed00-2001_sperm_donation_pplu.pdf[/url]

Myrna Minkoff

Give the employee the medical certification form and let the doctor make the decision as to whether it's covered under FMLA.