What Qualifies as a Serious Health Condition Under FMLA?
Learn what qualifies as a serious health condition under FMLA, including chronic illnesses, pregnancy, mental health conditions, surgeries, and medical treatments.
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How Long Does FMLA Approval Take? The 5- and 15-Day Rules
FMLA approval usually takes three to four weeks — but most of that is your own 15-day window to return medical paperwork, not your employer deciding. They have five business days to confirm eligibility and five more to designate the leave, and those are legal deadlines rather than targets. Here’s the full timeline, what actually causes delays, what to send if your employer is late, and why you usually don’t have to wait for approval to start your leave.