No one can truly predict what life will throw a person’s way. As a result, someone may intend on going to work every day only to end up needing time off due to a personal or family medical issue. In many instances, the Family and Medical Leave Act can provide protected leave that allows workers to take time off without consequence. However, FMLA violations on the part of employers are not uncommon.
New York residents may be interested in a recent case involving this type of violation. There were not many details provided about the case, but reports did indicate that a worker was terminated from a position at an appliance manufacturing plant due to absences. It was unclear how many days off the worker may have taken, but the employer considered them unauthorized.
However, the leave that the worker took reportedly should have been protected under FMLA. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation and found that the worker should not have been fired for the absences. As a result, the manufacturing company has paid the former worker over $43,000 in compensation for lost wages.
Many workers need protection under FMLA from time to time. Health issues and other aspects of life can easily get in the way of working, and New York residents should not fear losing their jobs over needed time off. Still, negative impacts can result when employers do not follow FMLA guidelines, and it may be necessary to take legal action in order to rectify the situation.
