Family Medical Leave

In California, a parent or family member's right to take time off of work for a medical condition or when pregnancy and other health-related family issues arise is well established. But employee rights are often ignored or misunderstood by California employers. When California employers fail to grant and respect Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights, they break the law and open the door to employee litigation.

At the employment law firm of Lyon Law we can provide experienced and effective FMLA legal help. We have helped numerous Long Beach and Los Angeles-area employees win significant compensation for FMLA-related violations.

Employers often allow the employee to take medical leave, but retaliate 4-12 months later by unfairly criticizing the employee’s performance or attendance and firing the employee, cutting hours, demoting or the like. This is illegal.

Have you been denied paternity time, or time to care for your spouse or another family member? Has your employer retaliated against you in regard to FMLA-related medical leave? We can help. Contact Lyon Law at (562) 426-2112 for experienced legal help.

Both the federal FMLA and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) provide pregnancy and medical leave benefits. The benefits often overlap, adding up to weeks and months of time-off benefits for California employees facing pregnancy or another medical issues.

Employer confusion abounds regarding FMLA and CFRA provisions. For instance, your employer may believe that a 16-week leave for a medical condition or pregnancy exceeds an employee's rights, since the FMLA provides for a 12-week leave. However, the CFRA can provide an additional 12 weeks of leave and the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL) can provide yet another 12 weeks on top of that, for a grand total of up to 9 months maternity leave.

California’s basic law against disability discrimination can protect your job for up to 12 months or more for temporary disability leave (for any type of physical, mental or emotional temporary disability of man or woman). Union collective bargaining agreements may provide still more leave time.

If your employer has fired you, or has informed you that you have or will exceed your medical- and pregnancy-related leave rights, contact our firm. Employers very commonly underestimate the amount of medical or disability leave to which you are entitled, triggering valuable claims. We can provide knowledgeable information, counsel and representation regarding your family leave rights.

It is important to get exceptional legal guidance before making any decisions regarding your possible employment law case. Our consultations have no charge and you don’t pay us anything unless you win. We will also advance any legal fees and expenses necessary for your case. You can contact us during business hours or make a special appointment if you need us to accommodate evening or weekend appointments. We are located just off the 405 freeway. To contact us call (562) 426-2112 or through this website via the box conveniently found on the upper left-hand corner.