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U.S. Department of Labor Seal U.S. Department of Labor

Family and Medical Leave Act Advisor

Reasons for Leave - Employee's Own Serious Health Condition

The FMLA allows leave for an eligible employee's own serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job.

  • An employee is "unable to perform the functions of the position" when a health care provider finds that the employee is unable to work at all or is unable to perform any one of the essential functions of the employee's position within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended.
  • An employee who must be absent from work to receive medical treatment for a serious health condition is considered to be unable to perform the essential functions of his or her position during the absence for treatment.

Can the employee perform all of the functions of his or her position?

Return to Reasons for Leave.

For more information on this aspect of the FMLA, see the FMLA regulations: § 825.112, § 825.123

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR