Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) Certification Practice Test 2026 - Free CLMS Practice Questions and Study Guide

An employer can deny FMLA leave if the employee is not eligible or does not meet the qualifying reasons specified under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Eligibility for FMLA leave depends on several factors including the employee’s length of service, the number of hours worked in the previous year, and whether the employer is covered under the FMLA provisions.

To qualify for FMLA, an employee generally must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and have at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12 months preceding the leave. Additionally, the leave must be taken for qualifying reasons such as serious health conditions, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or certain other situations defined by the law. If the employee does not meet these criteria, the employer is within their right to deny the leave request.

Other options may involve considerations of company policy or performance, but they do not directly relate to the statutory rights established by the FMLA, which is focused on eligibility and the legitimate purposes for which leave can be taken.