Benefits Coordinator
Elise Maloof
404 614-3233
FMLA Quicknotes 03/04/08
  • Be sure you go to the hronestop page and sign up for email notifications from FMLA. Once you are on the homepage click on the F in the directory on the right. This will direct you to the website where you can then sign up. You can also go to access.att.com from home.
  • As you will see on the FMLA website you may request an extension if you need longer than the 15 days to submit your forms from the doctors office. If you mail the forms you will have 20 days for FMLA to receive them.
  • When you sign up for email notification they will advise you when the forms have been received and if you are denied/approved. You can also email the FMLA administrators with questions. And supposedly they will let you know when your forms are expiring. I have not seen this used as of yet. This tool has been exceptionally helpful.
FMLA PROCESS CHANGES for ATTSE/Legacy B Employees
Effective 12/23/07, AT&T Integrated Systems will replace the Sedgwick FMLA division. They were formerly known as the SBC FMLA Division. They have been handling SBC's FMLA for years.
HROneStop

Access.att.com
888-722-1787
Some of the changes are as follows:
  • If you work 7.5 hours a day, everyone will start over in January 2008 with 450 hours. If you work 8 hours a day, you will start with 480 hours. This figure equates to your 12-week entitlement that you get per year under the FMLA federal law.
  • You still must have worked 1,250 hours. For example: If you have 1,800 hours worked in December 2007, this will carry over to January 2008. If you have 1,100 hours in December, you must wait until you have 1,250 and be re-certified in 2008.
    After an absence and you report back to work, your manager is supposed to have a "dialogue" with you to determine if FMLA is needed. They are to only ask you if it is a serious health condition for yourself, spouse, child (    A child as determined by federal law states that they must be under the age of 18 or if over 18, physically or mentally incapacitated., such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, mentally retarded, etc.)
    or parent. This is so they know how to code you, either 'I*' or 'H*'.
  • DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR MEDICAL CONDITION. It is against the law for your manager to have any of your medical information.
  • The manager, attendance person, or workforce must have this dialogue within two days of your return to work. The supervisor then has two days to report your absence to FMLA via the Intranet HR Plus One Stop website. They must then print out your individual bar-coded FMLA form. This form will be dated as to when they printed it. You then have 15 days to have your doctor fill out this form. The doctor must fax the form from his office. You need to get a copy of your forms and the confirmation sheet. You may also mail the forms. You will then have 20 days if you decide to mail them. Be sure to make copies. You may want to mail "signature required." They will check the postmark. Please note: You still need to call in each morning and report out the first seven days.
  • If the supervisor does not report your absence within two days of your absence, it is on them. You will not be denied due to not reporting within two days. There is a box on the form that says "Department Delay." The manager has to check this box when they fail to report.
  • You may also ask the manager for a copy of your forms to take to the doctor if you know that you will be applying for FMLA in advance. You may report your absence to the manager within two days of your return to work that the absence is FMLA related. The manager will report it to FMLA as explained above. Don't forget that you must report out daily.
  • Also remember that the "clock" starts when they print out the forms. As mentioned already, you have 15 days. If forms are not received in the 15 days (or 20 days if mailed), you will be denied FMLA benefits and there is no recourse.
  • Employees will always receive three documents when the manager prints the forms. A FMLA1 document is your hour's information. A FMLA2 document is just the FMLA Rights document. And a FMLA4 document is your bar-coded forms that the doctor completes.
  • Employees are encouraged to sign up for e-mail notifications. You may do this on the Intranet Hour Plus One Stop or from home at Access.att.com. You will be notified of your status, hours information, form expirations, etc. Your current paperwork is good for the entire 90-day duration.

    Per the managers at AT&T Benefits, another news source will be coming out December 2007 with the new telephone number as well as more information that I have noted in this information bulletin.

    I would also like to inform you that if you do not sign up for your voice recognition through E-link, you will not be able to talk to Benefits, Payroll or other departments. The voice recognition system is replacing your social security number/password combinations that we use now to call the Benefits Service Center.

    More information to come . . . . .

    Elise Maloof

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