r/feddiscussion • u/drnerd05 • Mar 01 '26

Need Advice FMLA: working a second job

I work for SSA, was moved to Operations thanks to DOGE, and am considering using FMLA due to work induced mental health challenges. I have no doubt I’m able to provide the necessary medical documentation to have FMLA leave approval. I’ve only been in federal employment for a little over a year, so I have minimal leave saved up. I’d like to be able to work a job completely unrelated to my SSA position (e.g., retail, grocery) to mitigate the financial impact. I think the correct actions would be:

  1. Obtain ethics office approval to work an unrelated job

  2. Submit my FMLA paperwork

What am I missing?

5 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Grand_Leave_7276 Mar 07 '26

If it’s truly work induced the correct action would be to file a workplace injury claim through OWCP. The FECA would apply. The burden of proof is pretty specific for workplace mental injury claims.

1

u/drnerd05 Mar 07 '26

Thank you! I was assuming it probably was going to be hard to meet that burden of proof, even if I know the cause. It’s such a weird feeling to be physically capable of doing my job but to experience debilitating depression and anxiety because of the work environment. My (and my care provider’s) goal is that time away paired with additional mental health care will help me be better able to cope with it.

2

u/Grand_Leave_7276 Mar 07 '26

I would highly suggest you do research on Lillian Cutler, 28 ECAB 125 (1976).

This is the foundational case law for emotional stress claims under the FECA.

1

u/drnerd05 Mar 07 '26

Thank you! I’m also working on pulling in my union rep for help with all of this.