Intermittent FMLA Management: Handling Unpredictable Leave Patterns

Intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act leave presents one of the most complex and challenging aspects of FMLA administration, creating operational difficulties that continuous leave blocks rarely produce. While continuous FMLA leave allows for predictable absence planning and temporary coverage arrangements, intermittent leave generates frequent, often unpredictable absences that disrupt workflow, complicate scheduling, burden coworkers, and test organizational patience. Research indicates that intermittent FMLA usage has increased substantially over the past decade, with intermittent leave now representing 60-70% of all FMLA claims in many organizations, fundamentally altering the nature of leave management challenges employers face.