Glossary

Term · California: Leave, Money, and Paperwork

intermittent leave

Also: leave in blocks, piecemeal leave

Leave taken in separate pieces, such as a few days here and there, instead of one continuous stretch. Some programs allow it, others limit it.

In plain words

Intermittent leave means time off taken in several blocks, not all at once. A worker might take one day a week for appointments, or a few days spread over a month. Under the federal and California's , intermittent leave can be allowed when medically needed, sometimes with the employer's agreement. is different: it is usually claimed in blocks of time, and the rules on splitting a claim are set by . Mothers may hear this term when a baby is in the NICU, when a parent has repeated appointments, or when a health condition comes and goes. Intermittent use is often harder to plan, and it can be harder to track against a total number of weeks. Each program sets its own counting rules, so the records may differ.

The deeper version

Under 29 CFR section 825.202 of the regulations, intermittent leave is leave taken in separate blocks of time for a single qualifying reason, and reduced schedule leave reduces the usual hours per day or week. The employer may require medical certification and may temporarily transfer the employee to an alternative position during intermittent leave for a recurring need. California CFRA regulations mirror the federal structure. Leave counts toward the annual entitlement by the amount actually taken, and how partial days are measured is a common source of disputes. Intermittent use is less visible in administrative records than continuous leave, which affects how studies measure leave use.

Where it comes up

What mothers here say about intermittent leave

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Sources

  • US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Family and Medical Leave Act regulations, 29 CFR part 825, section 825.202
  • California Civil Rights Department — California Family Rights Act (CFRA) leave information

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