Employee’s Lack of Diligence in Obtaining Timely Medical Certification Destroys Her FMLA Claim

As a management side attorney, I love when an employer prevails in an FMLA case. However, I’m doubly giddy when the case provides real, practical takeaways for employers that help them better administer FMLA leave. Yesterday was one of those giddier days, as a federal court took a plaintiff to task for: 1) failing to provide timely FMLA medical certification; and 2) failing to make a good faith effort to turn the certification in on time. In its decision, the court explained for employers the various ways the employee could have shown that she was attempting in good faith to return medical certification.