Family and Medical Leave policy revised for clarity

Clarity is the rule for the newly revised Family and Medical Leave (FML) Policy.

Not sure who counts as an immediate family member? The policy now has a list. Not sure when paperwork needs to be filled out? The policy now states deadlines clearly. Not sure if a health condition qualifies as serious? The policy now provides an extensive definition.

"It was a very complicated policy and we thought it was important to really expand on the definitions. We wanted to make the language more direct and specific," said Lynn Geist, consultant for human resources.

The policy was first introduced in 1993, when the federal Family and Medical Leave Policy went into effect, and was last edited in October 1997. FML provides eligible faculty and staff with up to 12 work weeks of leave during any 12-month period if that employee or a family member has a serious health condition or needs to care for a child during the first year after birth, adoption or foster care placement.

Several of the changes are in response to federal regulations.

For example, the former policy used the term "regular" to describe eligible faculty and staff, which was more limiting than federal law requires. The new language allows temporary or term employees to be eligible as long as they have worked at least 1,040 hours in the 12 months prior to eligibility.

The definition of what constitutes a serious health condition has also been updated to match federal wording.

"The old policy had a brief definition of serious health conditions. We went back to the federal regulation and pulled out their definition, which is very descriptive and easy to understand," Geist said.

The revision also adds language detailing the responsibilities of employees and departments. Employees are advised to turn in a Medical Certification form within 15 calendar days and provide the appropriate documentation for adoption and foster care placement. Departments must inform employees of their rights under FML; issue a letter of notification to the employee requesting leave within two business days; review documentation and determine eligibility; and then notify the employee of approval or ineligibility.

For consistency, the revision changed the definition of an immediate family member to match the broader definition that is used in another Human Resources policy, the Paid Leave Policy.

FML now makes it clear when and how intermittent leave can be used for the birth of a child, adoption or foster care placement.

The update to FML comes at a time when the Office of Human Resources is giving a lot of consideration to work/life issues for faculty and staff.

Now that FML is revised, the next step will be to revise the Paid Leave Policy, with particular consideration given to the area of parental leave. After that is completed, work will begin on a Parental Leave Guidebook, which will assist employees and managers in understanding how all of the leave policies work together.

Geist said the FML policy reinforces policies that Ohio State already has in place. "I think we're pretty lucky that OSU has excellent policies already in place -- vacation leave, sick leave and unpaid leaves are generous -- and the FML lays over top of all of them. Hopefully, what we've done is help to clarify the policy and how to use it," Geist said.

All Human Resources policies, including FML, are now available on the Web at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/policy/policy1.htm. Contact a human resources consultant at 292-2800 with any questions about FML.

Operation Feed food drive begins April 16

For 20 years, central Ohioans have turned trips to the grocery store into charitable endeavors by purchasing items such as peanut butter, canned fruit and macaroni and cheese to donate to the annual Operation Feed food drive.

Ohio State continues the tradition this year, with a drive held April 16 through May 4. Monetary and food contributions help to support the Mid-Ohio FoodBank, which sponsors the drive in partnership with United Way of Central Ohio. The Office of Human Resources coordinates the effort at Ohio State.

"Last year, the University donated $18,000 and nearly 11,000 pounds of food. This year, we'd love to bring in even more to feed the hungry in central Ohio," said Ned Cullom, program manager for human resources.

One-hundred percent of all food and money donated to Operation Feed goes to provide food to 198 pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters in six central Ohio counties. The Mid-Ohio FoodBank provides more than 500,000 meals every month. Nearly 44 percent of its pantry clients are children and 10 percent are senior citizens.

Critically needed items this year are: beef or chicken stew, canned fruits, canned pasta meals, peanut butter and chunky soups.

Cullom encourages monetary donations. "Every dollar goes twice as far as a pound of food. With monetary contributions, every dollar can provide two meals," he said.

Individual units across campus may have special incentives to donate, such as bake sales, silent auctions and raffles. Offered again this year to the entire University community are McDonald's coupon books for $5, offering a savings of $25. Willard Congrove, former owner of the McDonald's restaurants on High Street and Neil Avenue, donated the books to the University.

Students are also getting involved in the fight against hunger. Twenty student organizations will help collect the food donated in college and department offices on the final day of Operation Feed. Student organizations, fraternities and sororities also will have collection boxes in their meeting rooms and residences.

Ohio Staters Inc., a student, faculty and staff organization that works to promote Ohio State spirit, will conduct a project the week of April 23 in University dining halls to benefit the Ohio Hunger Task Force. Students on the meal plan can elect to donate one of their meals that week to the task force. Up to 7,000 meals may be donated.

A Hunger Banquet will be held at 5 p.m. April 29 at Hillel, 46 E. 16th Ave., sponsored by Project Community, Ohio State's volunteer referral center. Guests will receive a random designation as a high-, middle- or low-income tier and receive a corresponding meal. A few will receive a gourmet dinner, 30 percent will receive a modest meal, and the majority will receive a small serving of staple food. The evening will include a speaker and activities. Proceeds will benefit Operation Feed and OxFam America. For more information, call the Project Community office at 292-SERV or contact Heather Tsavaris at tsavaris.2@osu.edu.

For more information about Operation Feed, contact your college/office Operation Feed coordinator or call Cullom at 292-4341.

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