I am often asked to share my favorite resource materials and conferences involving the FMLA and ADA.

I recognize budgets are tight this year. So, if you have the ability to attend just one conference this year on the FMLA and ADA or if you’re looking for a free FMLA resource, keep reading.

First, the (Free) FMLA Bible

Every February, the American Bar Association’s Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee publishes a comprehensive report of FMLA decisions handed down by the federal courts in the previous year. Although this little FMLA blog catches a few of the big FMLA cases as they occur throughout the year, the ABA’s annual report includes all FMLA decisions from this past year.

This year’s report is as comprehensive as always — it summarizes 2020 FMLA decisions in a user-friendly manner and is a great reference for me throughout the year.

This year’s report, which was just released and is FREE, can be accessed here (pdf). I encourage you to print it off and keep it by your side as a valuable FMLA resource.

If You Want the Conference AND the Materials

One of my favorite presentations I provide each year takes place at the ADA and FMLA Compliance Update hosted by the National Employment Law Institute (NELI). NELI’s ADA and FMLA conference is an event you cannot miss. Really, I cannot say enough about the organization — owners Sascha and Todd Miller put together the finest experts on ADA and FMLA who tackle the key issues in a practical way.

This year, the ADA & FMLA Compliance seminar will be virtual and offered twice — April 7-9 and April 21-23.  This year’s seminar information can be accessed on NELI’s website here. (Mention my name and they’ll give you a nice discount.)

Not to scare you away, but I will be presenting on the FMLA at both sessions. And I’m always excited to present along side David Fram, who (in my humble opinion) is the single best presenter on ADA issues in the history of the universe.

Among other hot-button issues, we’ll cover the following on FMLA:

  • How the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor likely will enforce FMLA issues
  • The latest developments at the DOL, including recent FMLA opinion letters
  • FFCRA update, assuming there is an update in early April!
  • Employee notice issues, particularly where notice must be provided to the employer and a third-party administrator
  • How far employers can go when requiring employees to provide notice of intermittent absences according to specific employer procedures
  • Returning an employee to the same or equivalent position
  • Best practices in managing the medical certification process, including how to handle vague or incomplete certification and if the certification is turned in late
  • Effectively handling fitness for duty issues
  • Tips for managing intermittent leave abuse, including fraudulent use of leave and the good faith, honest belief defense

BONUS: the materials you receive from the NELI seminar are to die for! No question, you will keep your NELI binder close by throughout the year to help you address difficult ADA and FMLA questions. See you there!

Looking for other awesome FMLA resources? Click on the companies below and on the right side of my blog to learn more about their services and products!