What hours count towards the 1,250 hours requirement under FMLA?

The correct answer reflects the specific criteria outlined by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regarding the requirement for an employee to qualify for leave. Under FMLA regulations, the 1,250 hours of service requirement refers only to the hours actually worked for the employer. This means that any time off, paid or unpaid (such as leave hours, vacation days, or unpaid overtime), does not count towards the total.

Employees must meet this threshold to be eligible for FMLA leave purposes. The intent behind this rule is to ensure that the employee has demonstrated a substantial commitment to the employer by being actively engaged in work-related duties for the requisite amount of time.

Including hours like leave or vacation days would inflate the total hours and potentially allow some employees who do not meet the work commitment threshold to access FMLA benefits, which is not consistent with the legislative goals behind the act.