DOL has issued an opinion letter confirming that covered workers may use leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act not only for time spent in medical appointments, but also for time spent traveling to and from those appointments for their own serious health condition or that of a qualifying family member.
The agency considers travel time “part and parcel” of receiving medical care. DOL also notes that there is no specific time limit, meaning employees may use as much available FMLA leave as required. Time spent on unrelated activities, such as errands, is non-qualifying.
The letter also says that a medical certification need not provide any information regarding travel time to be complete and valid under the FMLA.