Commission Won’t Alter FMLA Policy

Crawford County commissioners decided Oct. 11 to leave a policy regarding employees using FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and their eligibility to receive holiday pay unchanged.

The issue came after consultation with Dave Smith and Steve Paulus of the prosecuting attorney’s office.

During the Sept. 26 meeting, Collector Pat Schwent asked commissioners whether an employee should receive holiday pay if they are off work through FMLA.

Black told Schwent at the Oct. 3 meeting that the handbook covered the situation and avoided legal issues.

Schwent told commissioners she disagreed and that after speaking with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, thought a policy needed to be added to the handbook.

Black said Oct. 11 that attorneys felt employees on FMLA shouldn’t receive holiday “because you don’t know if they are coming back.”

They did not recommend adding anything to the handbook and that the insurance company intended to leave it “open and broad.”

District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast said he understood the line of thinking, and that the situation should be handled by the supervisor.