One of the biggest employer complaints about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has long concerned the productivity problems caused by employees’ use, and abuse, of intermittent leave.

The Department of Labor took a big step to help minimize workplace disruptions due to unscheduled FMLA absences in its revised FMLA regulations, which took effect in 2009. The DOL says that, in most cases now, employees who take intermittent FMLA leave must follow their employers’ call-in procedures for reporting an absence, unless there are unusual circumstances.

Use this guide to make sure your employee handbooks are up to date, and revisit how you track FMLA intermittent leave.