Employers with 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year, including joint employers and successors to covered employers, must comply with the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). The FMLA requires covered employers to comply with various notification requirements, and allows employers to obtain medical certifications from employees requesting leave. The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has authored various form notices and certifications, which employers may choose to use.

The DOL-drafted forms expire on January 31, 2012. New forms, which have been submitted to the United States Office of Management and Budget, are not likely to be approved before the old forms expire. Nevertheless, under the law, expired forms may continue to be used while new forms are awaiting approval.