For extended
leave of absence requests, please contact Claire Perry, Benefits and KPERS
Manager, at [email protected] for assistance.
What
is FMLA?
FMLA (Family
and Medical Leave Act) is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take
up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period.
What that really
means:
- Your job is protected while you’re on
leave
- The leave itself is unpaid unless
you use your own sick leave or vacation time
- Your benefits, like health insurance,
can continue while you’re out
At Topeka Public
Schools, FMLA is unpaid unless you have leave time available to use.
We also have additional support that may apply depending on your situation,
such as Short-Term Disability (STD), Sick Leave Sharing, and Long-Term
Disability (LTD).
Who
qualifies for FMLA?
You may be eligible
if you:
- Have worked for the district for at
least 12 months
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours
in the past year
What
can FMLA be used for?
FMLA can be
used when life happens and you need time away from work for important reasons,
such as:
- Your own serious health condition
- Caring for a spouse, child, or parent
with a serious health condition
- The birth of a child or bonding time
- Adoption or foster placement
- Certain military-related situations
involving a family member
What’s the
difference between continuous and intermittent leave?
- Continuous leave means you are off work for one
full period of time
Example: 4–6 weeks off for surgery and recovery
- Intermittent leave means you take time off as needed
in smaller chunks
Example: A few days each month for treatments or flare-ups
What if I’m
not eligible for FMLA?
We understand that
not everyone will meet FMLA eligibility requirements, but that
doesn’t mean you’re without options.
At Topeka Public
Schools, we truly value supporting our employees. If you need time off for your
own medical condition or to care for a loved one, we do offer Non-FMLA medical
leaves of absence as well on a continuous basis.
These leaves do not
include the same job protections as FMLA, but we will absolutely work with
you to review your options and support you however we can.