Pres. Bush is making those last minute changes to federal laws and programs prior to leaving office.  This is the link that shows the changes to FMLA that will go into effect soon.  http://ombwatch.org/article/articleview/4407/1/85/?TopicID=2    Be advised that these changes are not applicable in Washington State.  We were successful with our legislature and our Governor to put into state statute the current federal rules and guidelines, so that no matter what was done in that other Washington, we in Washington State would still have the same rights and protections that we currently have today.  (CWA in Washington State was a major influence in drafting this legislation, lobbying for it, getting it passed and signed by the Governor.  These are our COPE dollars at work.)

 

The rules are changing around what type of time you can take (vacation, PDP, unpaid time), how much time the company has to approve your leave, how much notice you have to give, if there's no room left on the vacation schedule when you need FMLA, the company can insist you take unpaid time.  They did maintain/protect doctor-patient confidentiality; your supervisor can't call and discuss your healthcare or that of your family member with your doctor.  Read the new rules and be prepared for whatever the company decides to say.  Their perception is not necessarily reality!!!