---
title: "Tracking Family Medical Leave"
slug: "tracking-family-medical-leave"
updated: 2026-04-14T12:33:23Z
published: 2026-04-27T11:25:54Z
canonical: "support.builtapp.com/tracking-family-medical-leave"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.builtapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tracking Family Medical Leave

*For customers of our PTO module.*

---

In Built, you can [create or edit a PTO policy](/v1/docs/creating-or-editing-a-pto-policy-video-included) for family leave, configuring settings based on regional labor laws, individual eligibility, and your organization’s approval processes. This article explains how to create and assign a family leave policy.

## To create the policy:

*Only Company Admins and HR Admins can manage and configure PTO policies. Learn about* [*managing user roles and permissions*](/v1/docs/managing-user-roles-and-permissions)*.*

1. Click your company name at the top of the main navigation, then click **Company Settings**.
2. Click the **Paid Time Off** tab.
3. Click the **Add PTO Policy** button.
4. Select the policy type **Lump Sum**. Click **Next**.

*You’ll want to* [*create a Lump Sum Policy*](/v1/docs/creating-a-lump-sum-policy) *for an FMLA because benefits are normally granted annually, typically all at once on a specified date. While this is true for many standard family leave policies, if needed, you can create an alternative policy type:* [*Scheduled Accruals*](/v1/docs/creating-a-scheduled-accrual-policy), [*Accrue by Hours Worked*](/v1/docs/create-a-policy-for-accruing-by-hours-worked), or [*Unlimited*](/v1/docs/creating-an-unlimited-pto-policy)*.*
5. Enter a policy name, such as "FMLA."
6. Add employee instructions if you’d like, and continue completing the form.
7. Confirm if there’s a new hire waiting period.

*The* [*FMLA guidelines*](https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla) *can provide additional information when creating your organization's policy.*
8. Choose when account balances reset, selecting **January 1** or **the employee hire date,** depending on your needs.
9. Set the earned hours per year to **0** for FMLA policies where hours are not automatically earned.
10. Review and configure the remaining settings. The default options should suffice for an FMLA policy.
11. Click **Save**.

Once added, you can edit a policy by clicking on its name in the PTO Policy list.

## Assigning a Policy

With the policy now configured, click on the arrow next to the policy name, and then click **Assign Policy**. Remove the policy from all individuals except those you need to track family leave time for now, then click **Save**. You can assign this policy to others on a case-by-case basis as needed.

*When* [*assigning PTO policies*](/v1/docs/assigning-pto-policies)*, you can choose to automatically apply policies as new profiles are created.*

[Initializing or updating PTO balances](/v1/docs/initializing-or-updating-pto-balances) will enable individuals to view policy details and initiate a request in their account to spend their hours. You can also [configure a person's PTO account](/v1/docs/configuring-a-person-s-pto-account), adjusting settings for individuals if needed.

When a person no longer needs FMLA hours, you may choose to hide the policy from the individual. [Hiding a PTO policy](/v1/docs/hiding-a-pto-policy) allows you to maintain the policy history, while no longer displaying it to the individual.

Please contact our Customer Success Team for additional assistance.

## Additional Resources

[Understanding PTO Approval Workflows](/v1/docs/understanding-pto-approval-workflows)

[Understanding Account Balances](/v1/docs/understanding-account-balances-video)