HIGHLIGHTS

Employers Blog — Update

Department of Labor Clarifies That Medical Certifications Do Not Need to Include Travel Time to Medical Appointments for Such Time to Be Covered Under The FMLA

On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued an opinion letter explaining that leave taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) to attend medical appointments may include the time spent traveling to and from the appointment. This is true even when an employee’s medical certification from a health care provider confirms the need for the appointment but does not address the associated travel time.