I am going out for around 6 weeks due to a hip replacement starting Sept. 21st. Yes I am working through it and the pain is immense everyday. I can barely walk while casing and delivering to a door is horrible. But I was told by HR that, while using FMLA, I have to call in to that stupid number every morning, going through the tedious process, and call off for each and every day of the recovery. Anyone else have any insight on that? Sounds really dumb, but then again, most things postal, are really dumb.
FMLA Leave
- Thread starter shoe72
- Start date
What I found...
- Continuous Leave: If you are approved for a continuous block of FMLA leave (e.g., 3 weeks off for surgery or recovery), you do not call in every day. Your initial notification and approved PS Form 3971 / FMLA paperwork cover the entire duration of the approved absence.
- Intermittent Leave: If you take leave sporadically (e.g., flare-ups or individual medical appointments), you must use the standard USPS call-in procedures (via the LiteBlue eLRA system or calling the IVR hotline at 877-477-3273) to report each individual absence and apply your FMLA case number. You do not call daily once a continuous stretch is logged, but you must report every new, distinct absence event.
Calling in every day does not seem right. Do you have the form ? Doesn’t it say on the the form when the Dr/Pa, says you will be cleared to return to full duties ? Do not wait on mgt for the form, print it yourself. I am sure ppl with more knowledge on here will be able to help you. 
I'm confused because the HR person told me I had to call in every day, and surprise, my PM had no idea. She said I can only use FMLA sick time and NOT annual, but at least HR said I can use either.
So that says once I call off on the day of the surgery, I am good until return, Am I understanding this right?
So that says once I call off on the day of the surgery, I am good until return, Am I understanding this right?
Be sure you get a few copies of the fmla forms, things at the PO have a tendency to disappear.
Be sure you do your p/t ! I had to have both replaced due to hockey & many other sports, plus, delivering the mail did not help.
Same here Hockey, lifetime of sports plus, when I started at PO, we had dual appointments, city/rural carrier, and I did 14 years of walking an aux city route and doing an aux rural route in the same day. Gave me 8 hours of work a day but destroyed my hip. Things sure have changed in 30 years of PO work.
stingrayiii
Well-known member
As long as you have FMLA on file, the supervisor can add it to any sick leave on the computer. They also have the FMLA case number on the computer while doing it. Depends on how crappy of a supervisor you have really.
Several carriers have used the continual leave process in our offces.
You may use sick leave, annual or LWOP, it's YOUR choice when using FMLA. If you have any questions about the program call the Dept of Labor and they'll answer questions for you. This is a NATIONAL program, not a post office program, so USPS must adhere to the law.
RWHT has a drop down tab for FMLA.
