Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional Practice Exam

Which of these best describes a rolling period under the FMLA?

1. A fixed calendar year

2. The last 12 months from the current date

3. A consecutive 12-month duration

4. A date-specific 12-month tracking

The correct answer is: The last 12 months from the current date

The best description of a rolling period under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) refers to the last 12 months from the current date. This approach allows employees to take leave based on a continuous assessment of the past 12 months, starting from the date they wish to take leave. By using this method, employers effectively monitor and manage leave usage for each employee, as it gives a current view of each individual’s leave entitlement. This means that as employees take leave, the previous month falls off, and a new month is added, thus always maintaining a 12-month window. This rolling period aligns with the FMLA’s goal of providing flexibility to employees while also allowing employers to track leave effectively. Other options, while discussing 12-month periods, do not encapsulate the essence of what a rolling period entails. A fixed calendar year and date-specific tracking do not adapt to an employee's specific leave timeline and could potentially create situations where an employee's leave would be tracked too rigidly or inconsistently. Meanwhile, a consecutive 12-month duration may imply a fixed start date, which also doesn't reflect the adaptable nature of a rolling year's computation.