California employees have certain protections at work. The Family and Medical Leave Act is one of them. It’s important to understand how it protects you.
What is the Family and Medical Leave Act?
The Family and Medical Leave Act is a law that was enacted in 1993 as a way to protect employees in the event that a family member falls ill and they need to take time off.
How does the FMLA protect you?
Workers can take time off if they have to care for a close family member such as a spouse, child or parent who has a serious medical condition.
The FMLA doesn’t only apply to serious health conditions. If you have recently had a child, adopted a child or become a foster parent, you are entitled to take time off from work to care for that child and bond with them. You can also take off from work when you have a family member who is in the military on active duty or is expected to be called to duty if you have to help them with their affairs.
If an employee needs to take time off from work due to a medical reason involving the health of a family member, they must provide proof of that condition.
Per the law, if you have to leave your job for any of these reasons, your employer is required to give you the same job back or a position that’s equal to it.
It’s illegal for your employer to harass or retaliate against you for taking FMLA time. If you’ve faced these issues, fight back.