Sometimes employees must take time off from work to attend to personal matters. This could include a medical issue or another situation relating to you, a close family member or child. When the time comes for you to ask your employer for leave, you might worry that your employer will resent your need to take time off from work. Discrimination for taking leave is all too common, but your right to care for yourself and your family is protected through the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The Family and Medical Leave Act requires your employer and every other employer in the United States to grant you medical leave in circumstances where it is necessary. This could include a serious illness, pregnancy or birth and even situations involving children or a spouse. Not only does the act require that your place of employment give you this leave, it also requires that they grant leave without consequence to your employment. It is unlawful for your employer to retaliate or discriminate against you for needing to take leave away from work.
If you are in a situation where it is necessary to take family or medical leave and you find that you have been fired, passed up for a promotion, had wages or benefits cut or are experiencing other forms of retaliation or harassment, you could be facing a discrimination situation. If you have questions regarding your legal rights when it comes to workplace discrimination, speaking to an experienced attorney may help.
