FMLA Process Changes

To: Legacy BellSouth Employee

What: FMLA Entitlement (Hours Available) Tracking Method and Other Key Process Changes

When: Dec. 23, 2007 and Jan. 1, 2008

Supervisors should provide a copy of this email to employees who do not have access to e-mail.

There will be several key process changes as we align Legacy BellSouth FMLA administration with the Legacy AT&T process. These changes will increase the efficiency of FMLA administration and will assist employees in tracking their FMLA entitlement with greater ease.

Effective Jan. 1, 2008, Legacy BellSouth employees will no longer use a rolling-year method to determine and track their 12-week FMLA entitlement. Instead, they will move to a calendar-year method (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) as permitted under federal law. All eligible employees will be entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks of FMLA leave during each calendar year for qualifying reasons.

In addition, the following FMLA administrative process changes will go into effect on Dec. 23, 2007:

• · Requesting FMLA leave – Employees will be required to report the need for FMLA leave to their supervisor or their authorized delegates (e.g. Attendance Mgrs./SPOCs). Supervisors or their authorized delegates are responsible for submitting FMLA requests on their employees’ behalf via the online intake process.
• · Online Intake Process – FMLA claims will be submitted by supervisors or their authorized delegates only. Intake is only accepted via this online tool and training will be provided in the 4^th quarter 2007.
• · Fax Intake of Medical Certifications – Medical certification forms received via fax are accepted only if faxed directly from the healthcare provider (original copies of certification forms may also be mailed).
• · Bar-Coded Medical Certification Forms – Supervisors or their authorized delegates must print and provide the bar-coded medical certification forms during the online intake process to ensure employees receive forms with unique identifiers. Medical certifications may also be obtained before a request for leave is submitted.
• · Self-Service FMLA Status Site – Provides an 18-month history of claims processed by AT&T FMLA Operations (status for closed claims managed by Sedgwick CMS will not be available). Access is provided to employees, supervisors, SPOC’s and HR managers on the status of FMLA requests which includes absence detail, medical certification receipt and due dates.
• · Self-Service FMLA Determination Letter Retrieval – Should employees or supervisors misplace their AT&T FMLA Operations determination letters, copies can be retrieved and printed via the FMLA Status Site (18-month history). *Note: Status for claims managed by ADP or Sedgwick CMS will not be available via this online tool.
• · Voluntary eMail Notification – Employees are encouraged to voluntary elect to receive FMLA determination letters via email – at work, home or both.

• Additional details about these administrative changes will be communicated in early December 2007.