Source: Fortune
Summary
Some workers are using medical leave as a way to take a break from their jobs and even job hunt, with some claiming it’s a legitimate way to protect their mental health. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for a serious health condition, including burnout and mental health. However, some are using this as a loophole to take a vacation or job hunt, which may raise red flags with HR. Experts say that while it’s not technically illegal, it’s not a solution to a toxic workplace.
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The numbers tell one story. Burned-out workers are taking medical leave as a way to escape toxic jobs. But is it a legitimate use of FMLA or just a sneaky extended vacation? Lexi, a former kindergarten teacher, took FMLA for her mental health and used the time to enroll in a 10-week intensive therapy program. Others are using it to job hunt or take a break. But HR experts say it’s not a solution to a toxic workplace. As one TikToker put it, “FMLA does not fix the toxic workplace but it can give you that space and that time to breathe, to heal, to plan without the fear of immediate termination.”
Original observation: Taking medical leave as a way to escape a toxic job is just a temporary Band-Aid on a deeper wound.
Author: Evan Null
