USCA 7th: FMLA Restrictions Rule

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that an employer cannot impose return to work provisions that are more burdensome than those provided by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In Harrell v. United States Postal Service, No. 03-4204, 07/19/2005, Rodney Harrell, a clerk for the United States Postal Service (USPS), alleged that his employer violated the FMLA. Harrell left work early on 2/2/00 and submitted a medical form completed by Dr. Smith on 2/8/00, stating that "his absence was due to fatigue, stress, sleep disturbance and difficulty concentrating. Dr. Smit...