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The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and related California laws give many workers the right to take unpaid, job-protected FMLA leave in specific situations. When employers ignore or undermine those protections, FMLA lawyers in El Segundo can help employees enforce their rights and recover losses.
The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected FMLA leave for certain family and medical reasons. In California, these protections are expanded by state laws like the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), pregnancy disability leave statutes, and paid sick leave rules. Together, they create a framework of protections that many El Segundo workers don’t fully realize they have.
Under the FMLA, eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period to:
During qualifying FMLA leave, your employer must maintain your group health insurance on the same terms as if you were still working. When your leave ends, you are generally entitled to be restored to the same or an equivalent position.
California law adds further protections, including CFRA leave for a broader list of family members and separate pregnancy disability leave. If you are unsure which rules apply to you, speaking with an employment attorney can help you understand how federal and state protections interact in your specific situation.
Despite clear legal standards, many employers mishandle leave requests or misunderstand their obligations. Employment lawyers in El Segundo regularly see situations where workers are punished for simply exercising their rights.
Common violations include:
Sometimes the violation is obvious, such as being fired shortly after requesting time off for surgery. In other cases, the problem is more subtle: being quietly pushed aside, denied opportunities, or treated less favorably after returning from time away.
An experienced FMLA attorney can help you evaluate what happened, review documentation, and decide whether to pursue internal complaints, agency filings, or litigation. Even if your situation doesn’t seem drastic, early consultation with a knowledgeable attorney can prevent further harm and clarify your options.
Employees dealing with serious physical or mental health conditions may need not only time away from work, but also changes to their duties or schedules when they return. Under federal and state disability laws, El Segundo employers must engage in an interactive process regarding the accommodation(s) the employee needs, and provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would create undue hardship to the business.
This may include:
When an employer refuses to consider accommodations, cuts off leave prematurely, or terminates an employee shortly after a request for medical time off, that may violate multiple employment statutes. A seasoned lawyer can help you understand how FMLA, CFRA, disability law, and company policies intersect in your situation.
If you feel pressured to resign or are worried about losing your position because of a disability-related need, it’s important to seek consultation before making any decisions. An employment attorney can provide practical guidance about how to communicate with your employer, document requests, and preserve your employment rights.
Learn More About El Segundo Disability Leave >>
For many workers, the most important benefit of FMLA and CFRA is peace of mind. These laws are designed to ensure that you don’t have to choose between your job and a serious family or health need.
El Segundo FMLA and CFRA protections can apply when you need time off to:
In some cases, federal FMLA and CFRA can be used in combination to cover different types of leave in the same year. For example, you may use federal FMLA for your own serious health condition and CFRA for bonding with a new child. Because this can get complicated, many clients find it helpful to speak with an FMLA attorney about how their leave can be structured to maximize protection.
If your employer has told you that you are not eligible for leave or has warned you that your job is at risk if you take time off, that is a signal to seek consultation with a lawyer who understands these rules.
Learn More About El Segundo Family Medical Leave >>
Military families are also covered under special FMLA provisions. FMLA allows certain leave for “qualifying exigencies” related to a family member’s deployment and up to 26 weeks of leave for those caring for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness. Employers in El Segundo must treat these requests seriously and may face litigation if they deny or interfere with your rights.
Because these different forms of leave often overlap, many workers benefit from talking through their situation in a consultation with an attorney who regularly handles employment leave cases.
Learn More About El Segundo Military Leave >>
In addition to FMLA and CFRA, California’s paid sick leave laws give many El Segundo employees the right to accrue and use paid time for:
Employers must allow eligible workers to use accrued sick time without retaliation or discipline. If your employer has punished you for using accrued sick leave, refused to let you use it, or changed policies in a way that targets specific employees, that may violate state employment and labor standards.
Learn More About El Segundo Medical & Sick Leave >>
Pregnancy-related leave is one of the most misunderstood areas of employment leave law. In California, pregnant employees may be covered by multiple overlapping protections:
In many cases, this combination can provide several months of job-protected FMLA and related leave. Employers must not retaliate against workers who use these rights. Common illegal behaviors include:
If you’ve been told you cannot return to your prior role, or if your hours, pay, or duties were sharply reduced after taking pregnancy or bonding leave, it may be time to speak with a lawyer who focuses on employment and family leave issues. A brief consultation can help you understand whether your situation crosses the line into unlawful conduct and what remedies might be available.
Learn More About El Segundo Pregnancy & Maternity Leave >>
Some types of protected time off are not technically part of FMLA but are otherwise protected and can still affect your employment. California law, for example, gives workers the right to take time off for:
Employers in El Segundo may not punish employees for fulfilling these civic obligations. While these leaves are separate from FMLA, the same principle applies: your employment should not be jeopardized because you complied with legal or civic duties.
If you were demoted, disciplined, or fired after jury service or taking time off to vote, a lawyer familiar with California employment protections can help you evaluate whether the response was lawful and whether you may have a claim for damages.
Learn More About El Segundo Voting Leave >>
When employers deny, interfere with, or retaliate against workers for using protected leave, the consequences can be significant. Lost income, stalled careers, and emotional distress often follow. In those situations, attorneys help workers pursue remedies that may include:
In some cases, attorney’s fees and additional damages may also be available. Because these cases are time-sensitive and often document-heavy, early consultation is important. A knowledgeable FMLA attorney or employment-focused attorney can help you gather records, track timelines, and decide how to proceed-whether through an internal complaint, agency charge, or court action.
If you believe your FMLA or CFRA rights have been ignored, delayed, or challenged, you do not have to navigate the process alone. Our attorneys represent employees across El Segundo and throughout California in a wide range of employment leave disputes, from denied pregnancy leave to retaliation after medical absences.
A skilled lawyer can:
Our team of attorneys offers confidential consultation so you can better understand your rights before taking action. Speaking with a lawyer early often makes it easier to preserve evidence and protect your job.
If you’re unsure where to start, reaching out to experienced FMLA lawyers in El Segundo is a strong first step. By scheduling a consultation, you can discuss your concerns, ask questions, and decide whether further action makes sense for you and your family.
Our Practices are Guided by Integrity. We’ll protect what you deserve.
We work tirelessly and fight tenaciously to hold rights abusers accountable.
If you’ve experienced a distressing incident related to an issue like this, call us for a free case evaluation.
Legal cases can be lengthy, complicated, and confusing. We understand how difficult it is for an individual to navigate the California courts and legal system to redress violations faced at work. That’s why our experienced El Segundo workplace FMLA lawyers will be your partners so you don’t have to take on the system all by yourself. We take the time to understand your predicament, do the legwork to investigate your employer, gather all the necessary information, and advocate for you tirelessly.
If you believe someone has violated your individual rights or the rights of a group of people in your community, we can help you find the right course of action. Our team of El Segundo workplace FMLA lawyers will help you understand your rights and take action. At Matern Law Group, we believe in neighbors helping neighbors. Let us put our legal knowledge and experience to work on your behalf.
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