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Flu got you down? Read twice, then call your lawyer

February 2026 employment law letter
Authors: 

Michael P. Maslanka, UNT-Dallas College of Law

The flu is spreading like wildfire! So, is a flu-caused absence protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

Calling out sick

Here’s a typical scenario:

Employee is off for four days. He calls in and says he has the flu. He returns to work. The company has an absence control policy.

The question: Are the absences FMLA-protected, in which case they shouldn’t be counted against the employee’s absence allotment? If they are protected yet counted, then any discipline for a policy violation is an FMLA violation!

Establish a checklist

Here’s an idea: Provide the employee with an FMLA certification to complete and return to you.

Understand what triggers FMLA protection:

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