Know Your Rights: Your rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act must be recognized

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Eligibility for FMLA – New York FMLA Lawyers

Our FMLA discrimination lawyers help New York employees fight wrongful denial of leave, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other illegal actions by employers. If your employer discriminated against you for taking, or attempting to take, leave protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may be entitled to legal remedies under federal and state law.

What is FMLA?

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.

During this unpaid leave, an employee will continue to receive the benefits of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:

  • Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
    • The birth of a child or to care for the newborn child within one year of birth
    • The placement of an adopted or fostered child with the employee, and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement.
  • Care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition
  • A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
  • Any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.

Who is Eligible for FMLA Leave?

If you’ve worked at least 25 hours per week for the past year at a company with 50 or more employees, you are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

The FMLA is only one law protecting and supporting pregnant employees. If your company tells you that you do not have the right to take maternity leave when your baby is born as you’re not FMLA eligible, they may not be telling you the whole truth. Other laws—both federal and state—prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex and pregnancy, regardless of whether you’re covered by the FMLA.

If you find yourself losing your insurance or being denied your FMLA, contact us immediately for guidance and a free consultation regarding your situation, and whatever you do, remember, #DontQuit.


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