[AK] FMLA - 2 wks paid leave, then start intermittent FMLA - one week full OOO then 11 weeks las needed for appointments

Company has undergone significant change in leadership over the past 3 years, major changes to my specific department in the past 9 months. On the eve of the biggest re-org, I realized that I am, without question, the person in a department of 15 peers, seen by our new director as someone that really needs to be let go. He and I are oil and water, our interactions have never been solid and bottom line, he is pressuring my manager to fire me…ASAP.

I agree I have not handled the pressure well. I have are a few mistakes, not on a PIP or anything. I have been at the company for over 15 years. Today, I filed for 1- 2 weeks PTO to start Monday. FMLA to start the last day of PTO. I filed for 1 week, but am thinking of changing that to 12 weeks intermittent to allow for protection for that long to show and solidify my improvements and value. I intend to only use 1 week of the 12 as time off and won’t use more.

Question- I notified my HR department that I filed for FmLA, completed the paperwork.

Am I protected even though FLMA starts 2 weeks from now?