Arkansas FMLA

May 23rd, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Babies are born. Sometimes a spouse or a son or daughter becomes seriously ill. We may adopt a child, or we may bring a foster child into the home. All of these events require our full attention to our family life.

The Arkansas FMLA law is there to allow us to shift our concentration from workplace to hearth in such circumstances. They are the kinds of circumstances we think about at this time of year, as Mother’s Day passes and Father’s Day is not too far away.

The Family and Medical Leave Act is designed to offer job protection when we must leave our workplace to attend to pressing family needs. Some states have chosen to create their own versions of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which are sometimes slightly different. Arkansas abides by the federal program. Under the law, employees can take as many as 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for these kinds of circumstances. Private workplaces with 50 or more employees must abide by the law. Public workers and teachers are protected even if the workplace has fewer than 50 employees.

Employers and employees each have obligations to fulfill under the law. Employers must notify a worker immediately in written form about the leave status and telling him or her what must be done to insure the position is still there upon return to the workplace. Employees must do their share by following through on the instructions from the employer.

Workplace medical coverage premiums are paid by payroll deductions. What happen when a worker is on unpaid leave? The employer pays the premium and declares it an advance on the worker’s future paychecks. When returning to work, the payroll deductions during the unpaid leave are taken from the paycheck.

The Arkansas FMLA provides a poster describing the basics of the program, including eligibility and benefits. It should be displayed prominently at work. 

No Comments >> Posted in Arkansas,Employee Benefits,Family,Paid Leave

Arkansas State Holiday Pay Law Requirements or Employers

August 18th, 2006 Posted by Madison

Arkansas holiday pay laws are similar to some other states. Workers receive ten paid holidays which are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and two birthday holidays which are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s & Robert E. Lee’s combined Birthday, as well as George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates’ Day, as well as the employee’s birthday which he can take as a holiday.

An employee is eligible for holiday pay if he works his last scheduled day before the official holiday and the next scheduled day after the holiday. If the employee is off work due to illness or a scheduled leave, he is to be given a holiday day and his annual or sick leave is not to be charged for the holiday. If the employee is on a scheduled day off on the day of the holiday, he is to be given equivalent time to be taken upon the approval of his supervisor.

Regular salaried and extra help employees are eligible to receive holiday if they work their last scheduled work day before the holiday and at least one hour on their first scheduled work day after the holiday. If the employee is on leave or out of work on these days due to illness, the holiday will be considered a holiday and will not be charged against the employee’s annual or sick leave. If by the same token the holiday occurs on an employee’s day off, the employee will be given time off equivalent to the holiday. A part-time employee will be given holiday pay at the rate equivalent to their time worked. For example, if an employee works half-time, he would be given holiday pay equal to 4 hours. Holidays which occur on a Saturday will be observed on the previous Friday, and holidays occurring on Sunday will be observed on the following Monday.

2 Comments >> Posted in Arkansas,Employee Benefits,Paid Leave,Vacation