Skip to Main Content

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE). This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025. Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

Family and Medical Leave Act Advisor

Serious Health Condition - Condition Causing Incapacity

This question relates to the period of incapacity caused by the health condition, not the length of time the condition has lasted.

Does the health condition cause periods of incapacity that are permanent and continuing in nature or does it cause periods of incapacity that are episodic in nature?

Examples of conditions that may cause episodic periods of incapacity include asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc. Examples of conditions that may cause permanent periods of incapacity include Alzheimer's disease, a severe stroke, or the terminal stages of a disease.

Return to Reasons for Leave.