Middle managers are the essential conduit between an organization's strategic vision and its operational reality. They are tasked with translating high-level goals into actionable plans, motivating teams, and often, serving as the first point of contact for employee issues. This unique position, however, often leaves them stretched thin, experiencing the pressures from both senior leadership and their direct reports. Supporting these critical individuals isn't just about their well-being; it's fundamental to an organization's overall success and talent retention.
Signed into law February 5, 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides unpaid, job-protected leave to employees in certain situations. The basics of FMLA state that employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave per year if they work for a covered employer for at least 12 months, have at least 1,250 hours of service with the employer during the preceding 12 months, and work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles. The reasons that an employee may use FMLA leave include:
The best employees tend to work hard to meet an employer's expectations, but there can be consequences if expectations in the workplace are beyond what is reasonably achievable. Some employees find themselves driven into burnout, a state of stress-induced physical or mental exhaustion that prevents workers from operating at their best.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a
new Form I-9 that once again uses the word
alien as one of the options for categorizing an employee's citizenship or immigration status.