Q:
Can my agency ask me for information about how I am related to someone when I put in for sick leave to care for that person?
A:
Yes. When a federal employee requests sick leave to care for a family member, the employer agency may require the employee to document his or her relationship with that family member. But practically, this requirement is not very limiting, as the definition of “family member” in this context is broad and includes even “any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship;” the complete definition may be found at 5 C.F.R. § 630.201.
This response is written by James P. Garay Heelan, associate attorney of Shaw Bransford & Roth PC.
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2 Comments
I’m not 100% sure what calisthenics is? Sometimes it seems to be girls dancing in groups, other times it’s guys doing exercise on playground equipment.
Good to know this. Thanks