You Have Rights Under The Family And Medical Leave Act
Ideally, employers make leave accommodations when unexpected events happen and families grow. Unfortunately, not all businesses give their employees pregnancy leave and extended absence for medical issues. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) offers protections to those workers who need to leave their job under certain circumstances.
The FMLA protects workers from employer interference or retaliation for taking an extended leave of absence for certain circumstances. Your employer cannot pressure or threaten you into waiving your rights for unpaid time off. If you do take time away from work, then your employer cannot take retaliatory actions against you. This means your supervisor cannot deny a promotion, demote or terminate you.
However, not everyone qualifies for FMLA leave. Employees must work at a business with more than 50 employees and must also have worked a specified amount of hours in the past 12 months.
Find out if you qualify for FMLA leave.
What Are Qualified Workers Given Under FMLA?
The FMLA gives qualified workers unpaid time away from work for any of the following reasons:
- Childbirth or adoption
- A serious physical or mental health condition affecting you, your spouse, your child or other close relatives
Under certain circumstances, an employee is eligible to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under federal law or 13 weeks under Rhode Island state law. If your employer has violated the FMLA, it is important that you schedule a consultation with an attorney at the office of Formisano & Company as soon as possible. Our attorneys will carefully investigate your situation to determine your FMLA eligibility and your employer’s legal responsibilities.
Talk To An Attorney To Keep Your Employer Accountable
Your employer has a responsibility to give qualified employees time away from work for their families. Contact our Cranston office to get started with a lawyer right away. Call us at 401-400-4402 or complete our convenient online contact form.