What if an employee only needs to be absent on a part-time basis or intermittently (e.g. a few days at a time or in separated blocks)?

Unless the supervisor agrees, leave for the birth or adoption of a child or the placement of a child in foster care may NOT be taken intermittently or on a part-time schedule.

Leave taken for the serious health condition of an employee or family member may be taken intermittently or on a reduced time basis when medically necessary. (The use of LWOP for partial days does not affect the exempt status of an employee if the leave is for FMLA purposes.) Employees are expected to make a reasonable effort to arrange intermittent leave or leave on a reduced schedule at times that do not unduly disrupt the department's operations. Supervisors cannot require that leave be taken in increments larger than one hour. The supervisor can require the employee to transfer temporarily to a different job with equivalent pay and benefits.