FMLA Compliance: Strategies for Preventing Abuse and Managing Investigations - 2026 Update (SSNI08)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is designed to protect employees facing serious health conditions and qualifying family needs—but it can also present significant challenges for employers when leave appears to be misused or abused. Knowing where the line exists between protecting employee rights and addressing suspicious leave is critical to minimizing legal risk.

In this practical, compliance-focused webinar, you'll learn how to recognize potential indicators of FMLA abuse, respond appropriately without interfering with employee rights, and conduct legally defensible investigations when concerns arise. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, we'll examine common scenarios involving intermittent leave, call-in inconsistencies, social media activity, outside employment, and suspected fraud.

Whether you're an HR professional, manager, or employee relations specialist, you'll leave with actionable strategies for strengthening your FMLA administration, documenting concerns, and confidently navigating some of the most challenging leave situations.

Learning Objectives:

  •  Identify the most common indicators and patterns that may suggest potential FMLA misuse or abuse.
  •  Distinguish between legitimate leave management practices and actions that could be viewed as FMLA interference or retaliation.
  •  Manage intermittent leave challenges, recertification requests, and fitness-for-duty issues with confidence.
  •  Apply legally compliant strategies for investigating suspected leave abuse while protecting employee rights.
  •  Develop effective documentation practices that support consistent decision-making and reduce legal risk.
  •  Implement proactive policies and best practices that strengthen FMLA administration and help prevent abuse before problems escalate.

Who Should Attend:

  •  HR professionals
 •  Employee Relations professionals
 •  Leave Administrators
 •  HR Managers, Directors
 •  Compliance professionals
 •  employment law practitioners.