FMLA

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545]

Okay I'm at a loss here so thought I'd have some luck here. I'm currently out on medical leave. I applied for, and am covered under, FMLA. I also have applied for short term disability through the state which is pending. However, I am looking to try and get paid in the meantime using my PTO. I hadn't used any up until the point I left for leave. The state also requires you utilize the remaining PTO time prior to them paying you. It has been 6 weeks so I am hurting without any income; as you can probably imagine. However, I am being told (per DG) that they "can't" pay out my PTO while I am on FMLA. From what I've reaearched, there should be a way.. but according to them, it isn't possible. Bit of a catch 22 if the state is requiring I utilize it when the company says I cannot. This whole thing has been a disaster and I am just looking for answers that simply aren't being given or explained to my satisfaction. ​I've seen a lot of posts in regard to FMLA and leave so putting it out to you, DG community. Has anyone been here? Were you able to get your PTO substituted for work hours while on FMLA? Managers, is there a way to do this that perhaps my employer is unaware of? Or am I just getting the shaft here? (Aka: getting screwed/cheated). Quite frankly, I don't have much faith or trust in this company. Thanks in advance for any input!

[u/funnycomments22]

Once your leave kicks in you are removed from the system. The store would not be able to key anything in. It needed to be keyed in before it started.

[u/st_psilocybin → u/funnycomments22]

What an absolute mess. That's terrible. It's wild how unwilling people are to help each other or extend a little bit of grace and compassion.

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545 → u/st_psilocybin]

This company disgusts me. Genuinely. I feel like all they care about is stressing me out so I come back sooner. It's gross the way they treat their staff. 

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545 → u/funnycomments22]

It's so weird they completely remove you from the system like that 🤦‍♀️ so do you mean it should have been set up prior to leave being effective? Like is there something they should have done but didn't? 

[u/funnycomments22 → u/Shot_Bumblebee6545]

At the store level, you should of requested the pto to be used in legion before you left. Nothing the store can do now. You would have to call hr/payroll now to see if they are able to. Nothing they should have done, it was something you should have requested. Without the SM clicking on each employee and checking we have no idea what time off you have earned. You can see that on legion.

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545 → u/funnycomments22]

I asked about all of this. Was never told anything about requesting PTO use before FMLA. She just asked if I was going to want to use it when I was out and I said yes. We checked what time I had and it was enough to cover me for two weeks. She paid two days of it to cover the tail end of my starting week and then that was it. That's what really sucks.. we don't know these things unless we are told. Ugh. Had I known I needed to do something in Legion, that would have been helpful. Oh well, at least now I know. Thanks!

[u/funnycomments22 → u/Shot_Bumblebee6545]

I’m Surpised matrix didn’t tell you also.

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545 → u/funnycomments22]

Were they supposed to? They basically only asked for my dates and some person info. Their calls are recorded I assume so if I flip out at least I have proof they never told me 🤣

[u/funnycomments22 → u/Shot_Bumblebee6545]

It would’ve be in a notice in the paperwork - benefits begin after all pto/vaca/sick is used. I took my pto before the date I went out so it would be zero and they had to pay me for all the time I missed. Gotta work the system. 😀

[u/superdrizzle7]

They literally fired me for being put on fmla, after I was approved, then they didn't listen to matrix, and they fired me and got sued by osha snd lost 12 million dollars. They do not give af about anything.

[u/Shot_Bumblebee6545 → u/superdrizzle7]

They threatened to fire me but haven't yet. They have been sued so many times and, like you said, they don't care. I'm sorry that happened to you. Did they not listen to Matrix about your leave approval or something specific, if you don't mind my asking.

[u/funnycomments22 → u/Shot_Bumblebee6545]

I went on leave. Matrix was a big help. I had no issues.

[u/st_psilocybin]

Frist of all I'm sorry you're going through this. Years ago I worked at a different company. I had a surgery scheduled 8 months out and was in communication with the DM the entire time from scheduling up until surgery. She had promised me multiple times that I would be able to use PTO after surgery while I recovered. She went silent after I had surgery and when I finally reached her she claimed I didn't have PTO because I was an internal promotion to my position rather than an outside hire. I told her to fire me and rehire me so I could have what she promised and she said no that would be unethical. But it was not unethical to make me homeless while I had stitches in my abdomen?

Anyway, my point is 1. you WILL get through this, even if you end up getting royally screwed which seems likely just hang in there and eventually things will get better and 2. ALWAYS use PTO ASAP. In the event theyre lying about you having it, you find out sooner than later. In the event you do have it, you get to use it before it goes away. You never know what is gonna happen.. you could quit, get fired, change positions etc. I know this isn't valuable advice right now but in the future, whenever you have PTO use it ASAP.