Guides
Practical, plain-language guides to help you understand and exercise your workplace leave rights.
Psychologists and clinical social workers are named in the regulation. Licensed counselors and marriage and family therapists are not, but still qualify through a clause almost nobody cites. Includes whether a telehealth visit counts as an in-person visit, and what to do when an employer rejects the certification.
Most FMLA denials for mental health are decisions about a form, not about whether you deserve leave. A section-by-section walkthrough of the WH-380-E: which fields sink certifications, why "as needed" gets rejected as insufficient, what your employer may not ask for, and the 15-day and 7-day clocks that decide the outcome.
Depression qualifies for FMLA when it involves continuing treatment, and the bar is lower than most people assume. No hospitalization, no crisis, and under the chronic condition rule a single bad day counts even with no appointment that week. How the two pathways differ, who can sign your certification, and what to tell HR.
HR and leave administrators like Sedgwick, The Hartford, and Unum routinely demand mental health records that FMLA does not require. For survivors of childhood trauma, these demands replicate the dynamics of the original abuse. Here is what the law actually requires, and how to hold the line.
AI-powered tools like smart glasses, speech-to-text software, and AI writing assistants are becoming common ADA accommodation requests. Learn your rights, how the interactive process works, and what to do if your employer says no.
Yes, anxiety can qualify for FMLA leave. Learn which anxiety disorders meet the serious health condition standard, how to get certified, and your rights at work.
Yes, ADHD can qualify for FMLA leave. Learn how ADHD meets the serious health condition standard, how to get certified, and your rights if your employer pushes back.
Can you get FMLA for bipolar disorder? Yes. Learn how intermittent FMLA protects your job during episodes, what your doctor or therapist should certify, and your rights.
OCD is a disability under the ADA. Learn what workplace accommodations you can request, how the interactive process works, and what to do if your employer says no.
Disability accommodation lawsuits surged 42% in 2025 as employers push return-to-office mandates. Learn your ADA rights, the interactive process, and what to do if your accommodation is denied.
Fired, demoted, or sidelined after taking FMLA leave? These are the warning signs courts recognize as retaliation, and what you can do about it.
Colorado, Illinois, and California are passing laws to stop employers from using AI to flag workers on medical leave for termination. Learn your rights under the new AI employment laws.
DOL guidance confirms that FMLA leave covers travel time to and from medical appointments. Learn what your employer can and cannot deduct, and how to push back when HR docks your time.
Some employers use fitness-for-duty exams to delay or block your return from leave. Learn your rights, what's legal, and how to push back.
Unlimited PTO policies can actually undermine your legal protections. Learn why filing for FMLA matters even when your company says you can take all the time you need.
DOGE cuts are gutting DOL enforcement of FMLA, OSHA, and wage laws. Learn how budget cuts affect your workplace rights and what you can still do to protect yourself.
Chronic migraines and pain conditions qualify for intermittent FMLA leave. Learn how to set it up, what your employer can and cannot do, and how to keep your job safe.
Burnout alone isn't a medical diagnosis, but the conditions it causes often qualify for FMLA. Learn how to get the documentation you need.
After the remote work revolution, courts are increasingly siding with employees who need to work from home as a disability accommodation. Here's what you need to know.
Your employer must restore you to the same or equivalent position after FMLA leave. Learn what 'equivalent' really means and what to do if your role has changed.
Working another job during FMLA leave is legally complicated. Learn when it's allowed, when it can get you fired, and how to protect yourself.
Short-term disability and FMLA are not the same thing, but they often overlap. Learn how each one works, when to use both, and the mistakes that cost people money.
If your employer denied your FMLA request, you have options. Learn how to challenge the denial, gather evidence, and file a complaint with the Department of Labor.
Going through addiction recovery? FMLA protects your job during treatment, and the ADA protects you from discrimination in recovery. Learn what your employer can and cannot do.
Autism is a protected disability under the ADA. If sensory overload, masking, or burnout are affecting your work, you have a right to accommodations. Learn what to ask for and how.
Your 12 weeks of FMLA leave are up, but your protections may not be. The ADA and PWFA can provide additional leave and accommodations after FMLA runs out.
Three federal laws protect workers with health conditions, and they often apply at the same time. Learn how FMLA, ADA, and PWFA interact and which one gives you greater rights.
You do not need legal jargon to request accommodations. Learn the 'no magic words' rule, when a third party can communicate for you, and what puts your employer on notice.
FMLA has a 12-month waiting period, but the ADA protects you from day one. Learn how to use ADA accommodations as a bridge until you become FMLA-eligible.
Employers routinely bundle overbroad HIPAA authorization forms with FMLA paperwork. Federal law does not require you to sign them. Learn what FMLA actually requires and how to protect your medical records.
HR works for the company, not for you. Learn why documentation is your most powerful protection and how to build a paper trail that holds up.
If you have been fired or fear losing your job while on medical leave, you need to understand your legal protections. Learn what FMLA actually guarantees and what to do if your employer crosses the line.
A step-by-step guide to requesting reasonable accommodations at work. Learn what to say, what to put in writing, and how to handle the interactive process.
ADHD is a protected disability under the ADA. If you are struggling at work, you have the right to accommodations. Learn what to ask for, how to request it, and what your employer cannot do.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions qualify for workplace accommodations under the ADA. Learn what you can request and how the process works.
Yes, FMLA covers mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Learn who qualifies, how to request leave, and how to protect yourself from retaliation.