The Law Protects People With Family and Medical Needs
When it comes to family and medical leave, there is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that federal and California state laws protect the rights of some employees to take leave for serious medical conditions. The bad news is that many employers don't understand or know how to follow the laws.
At Working Law Group, in Ventura, California, we help California employees get the help they need by holding employers accountable for violating the law. We focus on helping you stay work connected — connected to the information you need to protect your rights and connected to attorneys who are willing to go to bat for you.
The FMLA and the CFRA
In California, two sets of laws are especially important for eligible workers who need medical or family leave: the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Unfortunately, these laws are commonly violated by employers.
The FMLA and the CFRA generally allow eligible employees who work for qualifying employers to take up to a total of 12 weeks of paid or unpaid job-protected leave every year. This leave can be used for several different things:
- Time you can't work because of a serious health condition
- Time you need to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition
- Time you need for the birth, adoption, or care of a child
Many employers don't understand that these 12 weeks don't have to be taken at one time. They can be taken as "intermittent leave" —a few hours or a few days at a time— to get the treatment that you or a loved one needs for a medical condition.
People, including those struggling with multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer, or diabetes, run into trouble with their employers because some employers don't understand or comply with the FMLA or the CFRA. Employers don't realize that time that eligible employees may need away from work for dialysis or chemotherapy is often protected by law. Employees may even experience disability discrimination as a result. But there is hope. Call Working Law Group at 805-256-7461.
The Family and Medical Leave Act and the California Family Rights Act also protect employees from pregnancy discrimination, by protecting their right to leave for medical needs and bonding time with a new baby.
Work Connected. Contact Working Law Group to Learn More.
At Working Law Group, we help California employees stay work connected. Our experienced lawyers connect you to the resources necessary to protect your rights under the Family Medical Leave Act and the California Family Rights Act. To learn more, contact us by calling 805-256-7461 for a free and confidential initial consultation.
