Jane Smith develops a sleep disorder and can no longer work her usual hours. Her doctor recommends that she negotiate a flexible job schedule with her manager.
But Jane’s employer won’t accommodate her medical needs. Slowly but surely, the company takes away her job duties until it’s “forced” to let her go due to lack of work.
That’s an example of why the federal Family and Medical Leave Act was signed into law—to help employees in Illinois and nationwide who find themselves in these types of situations.
Under the FMLA, eligible employees of covered employers can take unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons, as regulated by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Eligible employees can take a total of 12 work weeks off in a 12-month period for reasons including:
Family of military service members gets more time. An eligible employee whose spouse, child, parent, or next of kin is in the military and has a serious injury or illness can take a total of 26 workweeks during a 12-month period to care for that service member.
Not all employees are covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act. To be eligible, they must:
States may have different eligibility requirements. Illinois is notoriously stringent. For example, employees in this state must be full-time to be eligible.
Employers covered under the FMLA include all public agencies, local schools, and private-sector employers that have employed 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks during the current or preceding calendar year.
All too often, employers take advantage of their employees when they’re at their most vulnerable. We can take up your cause when you can’t.
Call the Law Office of Michael T. Smith & Associates at (847) 450-1103 or contact us online today to find out if you have an FMLA case in northern Illinois and surrounding counties.
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