Page 32 - Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual

notify the employee of his or her eligibility to take FMLA leave within five (5) business days of the request,
absent extenuating circumstances. At this time, the Augusta, Georgia will also provide the employee written
notice of the employee’s rights and obligations with respect to the leave (as well as providing copies of the
required certification form).

F. Application and Medical Certification:

A leave to care for the employee’s own serious health condition, or the serious health condition of a covered
family member, must be supported by a medical certification completed by the health care provider for the
employee or the covered family member. A qualifying exigency leave or a leave to care for a Covered
Servicemember with a serious injury or illness must also be supported by a certification. Augusta, Georgia
will provide the proper certification to the employee for his or her respective leave within five (5) business
days of the employee’s request for leave. The employee must return a complete and sufficient copy of the
appropriate certification to Augusta, Georgia within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving the certification,
unless it is not practicable. If the employee returns an incomplete or insufficient certification, then Augusta,
Georgia shall advise the employee in writing what additional information necessary to make the
certification complete and sufficient. In order to cure the deficiency, the employee must then return a
complete and sufficient certification to Augusta, Georgia within seven (7) calendar days. If the employee
fails to cure a deficiency in a certification, or fails to return a certification, within the prescribed time period,
Augusta, Georgia may deny the taking of leave.

An Augusta, Georgia representative (other than the employee’s direct supervisor) may contact the
employee’s health care provider to clarify or authenticate the medical certification submitted for leave for
the employee’s own serious health condition or the serious health condition of a family member. If Augusta,
Georgia has reason to doubt the validity of a medical certification, the employee will be required to obtain
a second or third opinion at Augusta, Georgia’s expense. Failure to comply with these certification
requirements will result in the delay, denial or termination of leave.

An employee who will be on a FMLA leave for more than one (1) week is required to call the Human
Resources Department weekly to report when and if the employee expects to return to work. Augusta,
Georgia may request recertification at any time during the course of the leave for the employee’s own
serious health condition, if: (1) the employee requests an extension of leave; (2) the circumstances of the
employee’s condition as described in the previous certification have changed significantly, or (3) if Augusta,
Georgia has reason to suspect that an employee on FMLA leave has fraudulently obtained the FMLA leave.
If desired by Augusta, Georgia, a second or third certification in the manner provided above may be
required. If the employee’s leave to care for his or her own serious health condition or that of a family
member is expected to last more than thirty (30) days, Augusta, Georgia will require a new certification
from the employee’s health care provider when leave is scheduled to expire, or every six (6) months,
whichever occurs earlier.

When Augusta, Georgia learns of an FMLA reason for leave after a leave has commenced under another of
Augusta, Georgia’s policies, Augusta, Georgia will designate the leave as FMLA-qualifying from the
commencement of the leave. Employees are required to cooperate in providing Augusta, Georgia with
information needed to make this determination.

G. Continuation of Group Health Benefits:

Augusta, Georgia will maintain the employee’s coverage under a group health plan during the period of
FMLA leave under the same terms and conditions as though the employee were actively working. During

All Rights Reserved – As approved by the Commission on 05-07-2019 32 | P a g e