8/8/2016

29CFR825.312Fitnessfordutycertification.|USLaw|LII/LegalInformationInstitute

CFRTitle29SubtitleBChapterVSubchapterCPart825SubpartC
Section825.312

29CFR825.312Fitnessfordutycertification.
eCFR

Authorities(U.S.Code)

Beta!ThetextontheeCFRtabrepresentstheunofficialeCFRtextatecfr.gov.

825.312Fitnessfordutycertification.
(a)AsaconditionofrestoringanemployeewhoseFMLAleavewasoccasionedby
theemployee'sownserioushealthconditionthatmadetheemployeeunableto
performtheemployee'sjob,anemployermayhaveauniformlyappliedpolicyor
practicethatrequiresallsimilarlysituatedemployees(i.e.,sameoccupation,same
serioushealthcondition)whotakeleaveforsuchconditionstoobtainandpresent
certificationfromtheemployee'shealthcareproviderthattheemployeeisableto
resumework.Theemployeehasthesameobligationstoparticipateandcooperate
(includingprovidingacompleteandsufficientcertificationorprovidingsufficient
authorizationtothehealthcareprovidertoprovidetheinformationdirectlytothe
employer)inthefitnessfordutycertificationprocessasintheinitialcertification
process.See825.305(d).
(b)Anemployermayseekafitnessfordutycertificationonlywithregardtothe
particularhealthconditionthatcausedtheemployee'sneedforFMLAleave.The
certificationfromtheemployee'shealthcareprovidermustcertifythat
theemployeeisabletoresumework.Additionally,anemployermayrequirethat
thecertificationspecificallyaddresstheemployee'sabilitytoperformtheessential
functionsoftheemployee'sjob.Inordertorequiresuchacertification,
anemployermustprovideanemployeewithalistoftheessentialfunctionsof
theemployee'sjobnolaterthanwiththedesignationnoticerequiredby
825.300(d),andmustindicateinthedesignationnoticethatthecertificationmust
addresstheemployee'sabilitytoperformthoseessentialfunctions.If
theemployersatisfiestheserequirements,theemployee'shealthcare
providermustcertifythattheemployeecanperformtheidentifiedessential
functionsofhisorherjob.Followingtheproceduressetforthin825.307(a),
theemployermaycontacttheemployee'shealthcareproviderforpurposesof
clarifyingandauthenticatingthefitnessfordutycertification.Clarificationmay
berequestedonlyfortheserioushealthconditionforwhichFMLAleavewastaken.
Theemployermaynotdelaytheemployee'sreturntoworkwhilecontactwith

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/825.312

1/3

8/8/2016

29CFR825.312Fitnessfordutycertification.|USLaw|LII/LegalInformationInstitute

thehealthcareproviderisbeingmade.Nosecondorthirdopinionsonafitness
fordutycertificationmayberequired.
(c)Thecostofthecertificationshallbebornebytheemployee,and
theemployeeisnotentitledtobepaidforthetimeortravelcostsspentin
acquiringthecertification.
(d)Thedesignationnoticerequiredin825.300(d)shalladvisetheemployeeif
theemployerwillrequireafitnessfordutycertificationtoreturntoworkand
whetherthatfitnessfordutycertificationmustaddresstheemployee'sabilityto
performtheessentialfunctionsoftheemployee'sjob.
(e)Anemployermaydelayrestorationtoemploymentuntilanemployeesubmits
arequiredfitnessfordutycertificationunlesstheemployerhasfailedtoprovide
thenoticerequiredinparagraph(d)ofthissection.Ifanemployerprovidesthe
noticerequired,anemployeewhodoesnotprovideafitnessfordutycertification
orrequestadditionalFMLAleaveisnolongerentitledtoreinstatementunderthe
FMLA.See825.313(d).
(f)Anemployerisnotentitledtoacertificationoffitnesstoreturntodutyfor
eachabsencetakenonanintermittentorreducedleaveschedule.However,
anemployerisentitledtoacertificationoffitnesstoreturntodutyforsuch
absencesuptoonceevery30daysifreasonablesafetyconcernsexistregarding
theemployee'sabilitytoperformhisorherduties,basedontheserioushealth
conditionforwhichtheemployeetooksuchleave.Ifanemployerchoosesto
requireafitnessfordutycertificationundersuchcircumstances,
theemployershallinformtheemployeeatthesametimeitissuesthedesignation
noticethatforeachsubsequentinstanceofintermittentorreducedscheduleleave,
theemployeewillberequiredtosubmitafitnessfordutycertificationunlessone
hasalreadybeensubmittedwithinthepast30days.Alternatively,anemployercan
setadifferentintervalforrequiringafitnessfordutycertificationaslongasit
doesnotexceedonceevery30daysandaslongastheemployeradvises
theemployeeoftherequirementinadvanceoftheemployeetakingthe
intermittentorreducedscheduleleave.Theemployermaynotterminatethe
employmentoftheemployeewhileawaitingsuchacertificationoffitnesstoreturn
todutyforanintermittentorreducedscheduleleaveabsence.Reasonablesafety
concernsmeansareasonablebeliefofsignificantriskofharmtothe
individualemployeeorothers.Indeterminingwhetherreasonablesafetyconcerns
exist,anemployershouldconsiderthenatureandseverityofthepotentialharm
andthelikelihoodthatpotentialharmwilloccur.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/825.312

2/3

8/8/2016

29CFR825.312Fitnessfordutycertification.|USLaw|LII/LegalInformationInstitute

(g)IfStateorlocallaworthetermsofacollectivebargainingagreementgovern
anemployee'sreturntowork,thoseprovisionsshallbeapplied.
(h)RequirementsundertheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA),asamended,
apply.AfteranemployeereturnsfromFMLAleave,theADArequiresanymedical
examinationatanemployer'sexpensebytheemployer'shealthcareproviderbe
jobrelatedandconsistentwithbusinessnecessity.Forexample,anattorneycould
notberequiredtosubmittoamedicalexaminationorinquiryjustbecauseherleg
hadbeenamputated.Theessentialfunctionsofanattorney'sjobdonotrequire
useofbothlegsthereforesuchaninquirywouldnotbejobrelated.
Anemployermayrequireawarehouselaborer,whosebackimpairmentaffectsthe
abilitytolift,tobeexaminedbyanorthopedist,butmaynotrequire
thisemployeetosubmittoanHIVtestwherethetestisnotrelatedtoeitherthe
essentialfunctionsofhisorherjobortohis/herimpairment.If
anemployee'sserioushealthconditionmayalsobeadisabilitywithinthemeaning
oftheADA,theFMLAdoesnotpreventtheemployerfromfollowingthe
proceduresforrequestingmedicalinformationundertheADA.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/825.312

3/3