Parents need sick kid to take time off under FMLA

By Sean F. Driscoll

BusinessRockford.com

A flu-induced school shutdown alone isn’t reason enough for parents to get time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act — the parent must have a sick kid.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers are not required by federal law to provide leave to employees who have to care for children who have been dismissed from school. That means parents would have to use personal or vacation time if they’re unable to find other child-care arrangements while schools are shut down because of the flu pandemic.

FMLA, a federal law, allows employees to take off up to 12 unpaid workweeks in any 12-month period for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a family member, or if the employee has a serious health condition.

The issue soon may be moot, however. Belvidere and Kinnikinnick schools shut down this week after probable cases of the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, surfaced in each district. Belvidere is reopening Wednesday, and Kinnikinnick could reopen as soon as Thursday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines saying schools needn’t shut down for suspected or confirmed cases of the flu.

Reach staff writer Sean F. Driscoll at 815-987-1346 or sdriscoll@rrstar.com.