Employees covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) have the right to take job-protected, unpaid leave from their jobs for specific medical and family-related reasons. However, taking this leave can be more challenging than people expect, and issues can...
FMLA
Is your employer interfering with your FMLA leave?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides most employees with the right to unpaid, job-protected leave for specific events. If you are taking time off from work to spend time with a new baby or to care for a sick family member, the FMLA...
5 actions employers should not take against workers on FMLA leave
Events like welcoming a child into your family, treating a serious health condition, or taking care of a sick loved one can be incredibly demanding. Thankfully, state and federal laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), allow eligible employees to take...
What types of family leave are you entitled to in New York?
If you or someone in your family gets sick, you may need to take time off work. However, determining your eligibility to take leave and whether you can afford to take leave can be a major source of stress. Thankfully, many New York employees quality for some type of...
Returning from FMLA leave? Watch for these violations
When you take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, you should be able to focus on the reason for your leave. Whether it’s to bond with a new baby or care for a sick family member, your attention should be on that and not your job. Undoubtedly, going back to...
IEP meeting attendance is appropriate use of FMLA leave, says DOL
A recent study shows a significant increase in developmental disabilities in children. The study, published in the medical journal, Pediatrics, has revealed substantial increases in the prevalence of disorders, such as autism, ADHD and intellectual disability, in U.S....
NYC considering paid vacation requirement for city employers
Employers and employees in New York City are already tasked with understanding and navigating the various leave and time off requirements. If you work or run a business in New York City, you need to be aware of your rights and obligations under federal, state, and...
What’s the best way to calculate the 12-month FMLA leave period?
If you're an employer covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, you probably know that employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a single 12-month period (16 weeks when caring for a military family member). The way you calculate that...
Can you be fired for visiting a sick family member in the hospital?
We all dread a phone call at work saying that a loved one is in the hospital suffering from a serious medical condition. Our first reaction is to leave work immediately to provide what help we can. Most employers are understanding in this situation. But what happens...
Walmart accused of punishing workers for taking sick time
A group of workers recently accused Walmart of punishing them for taking sick time. Among the allegations are instances of the company refusing to accept doctors' notes, penalizing workers for taking care of sick family members and other instances of punishing...