Providing notice to employees on leave: Implications of Ragsdale versus Wolverine Worldwide, Inc.

Occupational health nurses must develop a perspective on implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that supports the provision of quality nursing care to employees and regulatory compliance by the employer. Public policy related to the FMLA continues to evolve with the states acting more rapidly than the federal government as laboratories for social change. Occupational health nurses must identify resources for staying current about new legislation and proposals to advise employers and facilitate regulatory compliance. Occupational health nurses should advise employers to provide written notice to employees designating leave taken under company leave policies as counting as employees' FMLA leave entitlement. These issues are important for regulatory compliance, and also for communication with and fair treatment of employees.