HR employee benefits under FMLA: Evaluate two articles

Employee Benefits (Retirement, Health, Family Medical Leave Act)

Read Norman Tolle's article, "Employer did not interfere with employee's FMLA leave when it had 'honest suspicion' that she was not using leave for its 'intended purpose'." Also read, "Noble headache," by Diane Cadrain from HR Magazine, July 2008.

Please integrate background readings and library research into your analysis of this situation in responding to the questions below:

For your case assignment, answer the following:

1) What is the FMLA law? What are the amendments to the FMLA to date?

2) What does the FMLA allow of employers? What does it require of employees? What is the root of the problem in this Raybestos Products case, which resulted in this employee fraudulently using FMLA?

3) How could employers better protect themselves from fraudulent use of FMLA without negatively affecting the employees who truly need it?

4) What challenges are there for private-sector organizations in managing employee benefits in light of the many laws that relate to employee benefits? What are some laws/policies that might overlap or conflict with the FMLA? Please provide a specific discussion.