Need help with FMLA follow-up - can't get through to anyone!
Hey everyone, I need some advice about my FMLA filing. I recently submitted my paperwork and now I'm trying to follow up, but I'm running into some issues. Has anyone gone through this process recently? What should I expect? Any tips on how to get in touch with someone who can help me out?
23 comments


Nia Jackson
Ugh, FMLA can be such a pain to deal with. I went through it last year and it took forever to get everything sorted out. What specific issues are you having?
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Luca Romano
ā¢Well, I'm not really sure where my application stands. I submitted everything a couple weeks ago, but haven't heard anything back. I've tried calling, but I can never get through to a real person. It's so frustrating!
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Nia Jackson
ā¢Yeah, that sounds about right. The waiting game is the worst part. Have you tried checking your status online? Sometimes they update it there before they actually contact you.
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Luca Romano
ā¢I didn't even know there was an online status check! š¤¦āāļø Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely look into that.
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NebulaNova
I feel your pain, OP. The FMLA process can be a real nightmare. Here's what I've learned from my experience: ⢠Be persistent: Keep calling and emailing. It sucks, but sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. ⢠Document everything: Keep a log of all your calls, emails, and any responses you receive. ⢠Double-check your paperwork: Make sure you've filled out everything correctly and included all required documents. ⢠Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with FMLA regulations so you can advocate for yourself if needed. ⢠Reach out to your HR department: They might be able to help or at least point you in the right direction. Hang in there, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. This process can be overwhelming, but you've got this! šŖ
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Luca Romano
ā¢Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely start keeping better records of my attempts to contact them. And reaching out to HR is a great idea, I hadn't even thought of that.
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Mateo Hernandez
ā¢This is solid advice right here š Especially the part about knowing your rights. I learned that the hard way when my employer tried to deny my FMLA claim initially.
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Aisha Khan
Have you tried faxing your documents? I know it sounds old school, but when I was dealing with FMLA, faxing seemed to get a faster response than mailing or emailing.
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Ethan Taylor
lol good luck getting anyone on the phone. I swear they must have like 2 people working there or something š
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Yuki Ito
ā¢For real tho. I spent hours on hold last month trying to get through. It's ridiculous.
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Carmen Lopez
ā¢Guys, I actually found a way to get someone on the phone! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Check out this video: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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AstroAdventurer
ā¢Wait, seriously? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Carmen Lopez
ā¢I know it sounds sketchy, but I swear it's legit. Saved me hours of hold time. Totally worth the 20 bucks imho.
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Andre Dupont
idk if this helps, but I found that calling first thing in the morning (like right when they open) gave me the best chance of getting through to someone. might be worth a shot!
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Anyone else feel like the whole system is designed to make us give up? š¤ It's like they make it as difficult as possible on purpose.
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Jamal Wilson
ā¢100% agree. It's a total clown show š¤”
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Mei Lin
ā¢Conspiracy theory: they're all secretly working for the companies to discourage people from taking FMLA š
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Quinn Herbert
Hey Luca! I just went through this same process a few months ago and totally understand your frustration. A couple things that helped me: 1. Try calling right at 8 AM when they open - I had better luck getting through then 2. If you have a case number, have it ready along with your social and all your info 3. There's also a callback option on their website where you can request they call you back instead of waiting on hold 4. Keep trying the online portal - sometimes it updates before they call you The waiting is definitely the worst part, but hang in there! Most people I know eventually got their stuff processed, it just takes way longer than it should. Keep us posted on how it goes! š¤
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StarStrider
ā¢Thank you so much for these tips, Quinn! The callback option sounds amazing - I had no idea that existed. I'll definitely try calling right at 8 AM tomorrow and see if I can get through. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually made it through the process successfully. Sometimes it feels like I'm just shouting into the void! š
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Savannah Weiner
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my paperwork about 3 weeks ago and it's been radio silence ever since. The phone system is absolutely brutal - I've probably spent 10+ hours on hold over the past week with nothing to show for it. One thing that's helped me stay (somewhat) sane is setting a timer when I call so I don't waste my entire day waiting. I also started calling from different numbers to see if that makes any difference (spoiler: it doesn't š). Has anyone had luck with contacting their local representative's office? I've heard they sometimes help with government agency issues, but not sure if that applies to FMLA stuff. At this point I'm willing to try anything! Keep fighting the good fight, we'll get through this eventually! šŖ
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Elliott luviBorBatman
ā¢Oh wow, 3 weeks and 10+ hours on hold? That's even worse than what I'm dealing with! I feel your pain completely. The timer idea is actually brilliant - I've definitely lost entire afternoons just sitting there waiting for someone to pick up. I hadn't thought about contacting a local representative's office, but that's a really interesting idea! I've heard they can sometimes help cut through red tape with government agencies. It might be worth a shot, especially if the regular channels keep failing us. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one going through this nightmare right now. We've got this! š¤
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Savannah Glover
I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago and it was beyond frustrating! Here's what finally worked for me: ⢠I started calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - way better success rate ⢠Used the online chat feature during off-peak hours (like 2-3 PM) - sometimes gets you to someone faster than phone ⢠Filed a complaint through their website when I hit the 4-week mark with no response - that seemed to shake something loose ⢠Asked my employer's HR if they had a direct contact - turns out they did! The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but once I got someone on the line, they were actually pretty helpful and got things moving quickly. Don't give up! The system is definitely broken but persistence eventually pays off. Also, if you're dealing with time-sensitive medical issues, mention that upfront - they sometimes have expedited processes for urgent cases. Good luck! š
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Katherine Harris
ā¢This is super helpful advice! I had no idea there was an online chat feature - definitely going to try that today. The complaint filing tip is interesting too, sounds like sometimes you need to make some noise to get their attention. Quick question - when you say your employer's HR had a direct contact, was that like a special number or a specific person they work with? I'm wondering if I should reach out to my HR department to see if they have any insider knowledge about navigating this process. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel! š
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