{"id":6637,"date":"2025-08-06T10:12:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T04:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/?p=6637"},"modified":"2025-08-05T10:23:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T04:53:51","slug":"can-employers-ask-employees-to-work-during-fmla-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/06\/can-employers-ask-employees-to-work-during-fmla-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Employers Ask Employees to Work During FMLA Leave?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When life throws curveballs, a serious illness, a new baby, or a family emergency, work understandably takes a backseat. That\u2019s exactly why the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) exists: to protect employees during these times without making them choose between their job and their personal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what happens if, in the middle of an employee\u2019s FMLA leave, something urgent comes up at work? Can the employer reach out? Can they ask for help? Should they? Let\u2019s unpack this properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:20px;font-size:28px;font-weight:bold;\">Related Webinars<\/div><div style=\"width:100%;height:auto;overflow:hidden;overflow-x:auto;margin:20px 0;\"><div style=\"width:calc(3 * 260px);\"><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1735\/overtime-2026?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/1690210566_ddeafec58b7fab473c74.png&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">Overtime:  California Style for 2026<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Apr 8th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Vicki M. Lambert, CPP<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1789\/i9-audit-ready?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/03324db88ff64d09440ead719f8861c9.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">ICE Is Knocking: Are Your I-9s Audit-Ready?<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Apr 14th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Margie Faulk<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1795\/white-collar-exemptions?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/38f0e7d922a183e06e18edf9f8fd871b.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">FLSA White Collar Exemptions: The Rules, The Risks, The Fixes<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Apr 15th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Patrick A. Haggerty, EA<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is FMLA Leave? (And Who\u2019s Eligible?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FMLA is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period. During this time, the employee retains their health benefits and has the legal right to return to their same or equivalent position after the leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who qualifies for FMLA?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To be eligible, an employee must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Work for a covered employer (generally, a private employer with 50+ employees, or a public agency).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have worked at least 12 months for the employer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Employees Take FMLA Leave<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FMLA isn\u2019t for \u201ctaking a break.\u201d It\u2019s for dealing with serious life events. Common reasons include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recovering from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/07\/what-is-considered-fmla-serious-health-condition\/\"><strong>serious medical condition<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caring for an immediate family member with a health issue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parental leave after childbirth, adoption, or foster placement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Handling qualifying military-related needs or caring for a wounded service member<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In most of these cases, employees are physically or emotionally unavailable for work, which is the entire reason the law protects their right to be absent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To know more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-fmla-and-intermittent-fmla\/\"><strong>fmla for mental health<\/strong><\/a>, do give our in- depth blog a read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can Employers Ask Employees to Work During FMLA Leave?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the legal and ethical reality: Employers cannot require employees to work during FMLA leave. That would violate FMLA protections and could open the employer up to legal consequences. However, and this is a big &#8220;however&#8221;, there is some nuance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding \u201cInterference\u201d with FMLA Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Department of Labor, employers must not interfere with an employee\u2019s FMLA rights. \u201cInterference\u201d includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Requiring work to be done during leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discouraging the employee from taking leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retaliating against an employee for using leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pressuring an employee to cut their leave short<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even small acts, like repeatedly calling to \u201ccheck in\u201d or implying a project is falling apart without them, could count as interference, depending on how it\u2019s interpreted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To know more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/19\/can-an-employer-deny-intermittent-fmla-leave\/\"><strong>whether an Employer Can Deny Intermittent FMLA Leave<\/strong><\/a>, do give our in- depth blog a read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Any Contact Allowed at All?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, but it must be handled carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s generally okay:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A brief call or email to ask where a file is stored<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clarifying a process they were involved in, if no one else can figure it out<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Informing the employee about a company-wide change that might affect them (e.g., reorganization, layoffs, policy updates)<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s not okay:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assigning new tasks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requesting status updates on current projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asking them to join meetings, respond to emails, or make decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating a sense of obligation to be involved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If the employee voluntarily offers help or expresses willingness to stay in touch, that&#8217;s their choice, but it should never be initiated or expected by the employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Employers Should Do Instead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re an employer or HR professional trying to cover someone\u2019s workload during their FMLA absence, here\u2019s the smart move:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Have a backup plan before they leave<\/strong> \u2013 Cross-training is your friend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Communicate coverage clearly<\/strong> \u2013 Let the team know who\u2019s handling what.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Respect the boundary<\/strong> \u2013 If the employee\u2019s off the grid, keep them off the grid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Document everything <\/strong>\u2013 Keep clear records of any contact made, in case it\u2019s questioned later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t blur the lines<\/strong> \u2013 Even if the employee says, \u201cI can help a little,\u201d clarify what that means legally and ethically.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why It Matters: Legal Risks and Human Decency<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FMLA violations can lead to lawsuits, government audits, fines, and serious reputational damage. But beyond that, it\u2019s about trust. If employees don\u2019t feel safe taking leave when they genuinely need it, you\u2019ve failed as a workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers who ignore FMLA rules, even informally, create a culture of fear, burnout, and eventual turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion: Respect the Law, Respect the Leave<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FMLA isn\u2019t a suggestion, it\u2019s a legal right designed to protect employees when they\u2019re most vulnerable. Asking someone to work during their protected leave, even for \u201cjust a little help,\u201d can cross the line into illegal territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless it\u2019s an emergency and the employee chooses to help (and is medically able to), employers should stay out of their inbox. The best workplaces plan ahead, respect boundaries, and focus on building trust, not breaking it when it matters most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When life throws curveballs, a serious illness, a new baby, or a family emergency, work understandably takes a backseat. That\u2019s exactly why the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) exists:&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6638,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-blog"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6637"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6639,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6637\/revisions\/6639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}