How to Request FMLA Leave in Mississippi

One of the biggest concerns that Mississippi employees have is that of parental leave requests and the use of FMLA. Most employers are required to offer FMLA to their employees who have a valid reason. If FMLA is the only option you have with your employer, then you need to know your eligibility requirements and make an efficient request with the help of DoNotPay.

Who Is Eligible for FMLA in Mississippi?

FMLA is federally regulated and available to any employee with an eligible employer in Mississippi, provided they meet specific criteria for being eligible. In order to get FMLA to leave, you must meet one of the following:

• You must have been employed with your current employer for at least a year
• During the year before, you worked at least 1250 hours in 12 months
• Your location has at least 50 employees on all locations within 75 miles of your work location

As long as you and your employer meet these qualifications, you are eligible for FMLA and have the ability to hold your job in the event of a tragedy.

Paid Parental Leave in Mississippi

In the state of Mississippi, there is no law that allows for paid leave for employees. Paid leave is left up to private businesses for their employees and the requirements in which they use to determine the eligibility for this leave. The only law regarding leave and safeguarding your job in Mississippi is the FMLA Act, which is federal.

What is FMLA?

FMLA stands for the Family and Medical Leave Act, which is a federal law, allowing an eligible employee to file for and take up to 12 weeks of leave during a 12-month time frame for a variety of reasons.

This leave is not paid, but it can be used for the following:

• Use for yourself and recover after significant health conditions
• Spend time with a new child after birth or after adoption
• Spend time caring for a family member with a serious or terminal condition
• Use to take time for your military spouse who may be injured while serving.

There are a number of reasons why an employee will need to take time off for themselves or their family members and need to keep their job in the process.

What’s the Difference Between FMLA/Paid Family and Medical Leave

If your employer offers paid family and medical leave, then that is your best option to use first if you are taking off for the birth of a child or an adoption. The FMLA can guarantee you up to twelve weeks if you are approved and secure your job. The biggest difference between these two benefits is the guarantee of a check or lack of one.

Can I Get Paid on FMLA?

It is important to note that FMLA does not mean that you will get paid. You can get up to twelve weeks if approved, but this time is unpaid. The biggest benefit of FMLA leave is that you are holding your position with your employer while you are out of work. If you have annual or paid time off with your employer, you are eligible to use that time so that you can get some type of payment while you are out.

How to Apply for FMLA

If you want to take advantage of your FMLA rights as an employee, there is a process where you must apply and get it approved before it is available to you. Keep in mind there are lots of steps to this process, not always making it the most friendly.

1. You must go to the health care provider for you or your loved one and get an FMLA recommendation. This outlines the conditions and reasoning you need the leave. It also states how much time you need.
2. Reach out to your HR office and see if they have an employer form that you use to supplement that request. Some employers may want additional information and documentation before you can make the official request.
3. You have 15 days to submit this documentation back to your employer so that you can get the approval. If it is over 15 days, you will need to start back from the beginning.
4. Once it has been sent in and approved, you will be notified. When it is time to take the leave, you need to give advanced notice, or your employer can deny the request.
5. Apply for any paid parental leave options that you have with your employer at the same time so that you can attempt to get paid.
6. If you do not have this option, you need to also make a request to use any outstanding annual, sick, or paid time off that you have available so that you do not lose a paycheck during this time.

What if I Cannot Apply for FMLA on My Own?

If you have put in a request for your FMLA leave, then you may be waiting for a response of some kind. Do not wait too long and miss your opportunity for the leave that you are entitled to. If you have not heard back or did not get the response you were looking for due to incorrect information, it is time to allow DoNotPay to take on this task for you.

Let DoNotPay Help With Your Mississippi FMLA Request

If you want to request parental leave but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 6 easy steps:

1. Tell us which state you work in (if you work in CA, NY, NJ, MA, WA, or DC, your state has a paid family leave program).

2. Choose whether you want us to apply to the program for you or contact your employer with your leave request. If you want to apply for the program, we will walk you through the questions on the form and mail the application form for you.

3. If you want us to contact your employer, enter your leave details, including the starting date, number of weeks of leave, and how many weeks of paid leave you are requesting (for example, you may take a 12 week leave, but only request eight weeks of paid leave to make the request reasonable).

4. Indicate whether you are the birth parent or not (birth parents have a few additional legal protections).

5. Enter the name of your company and the person to address this request to.

6. Select whether you want us to email the request to your employer on your behalf.

DoNotPay aims to streamline complicated activities, so you can pay attention to more important things, like welcoming your new family member. Our services are designed to be:

DoNotPay Can Assist With a Variety of Companies

If you are working for a private company, DoNotPay can help with just more than FMLA in Mississippi. They can help you make a request across the country, especially if you move during your pregnancy or when you are trying to start a family.

With just one click, you can make a parental leave request with the majority of all companies and governments out there.