Legal Question in Medical Leave in California
Is my job protected by FMLA for fibromyalgia?
I was diagnosed in June 2004 with fibromyalgia and have had to go round and round with my employer who continually says I am ''excessively absent''. Although I have missed a lot of work (105 hrs), I have complied to their request of providing doctor note after each absence. Now they say I can no longer be absent from now 3/27/09-6/5/09. What more can I do? I have been written up for exceeding my sick day allotment by 25 hours. Please help!
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Is my job protected by FMLA for fibromyalgia?
Hello. It's likely that your employer is committing a common mistake that gets employers in trouble. Once your FMLA leave expires, the employer has to consider whether it would be a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act anti-discrimination provisions to extend your leave or modify your schedule.
I am not 100% sure if chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia is considered a disability within the Act, but I believe it is.
Thanks and I hope this helps. And feel free to follow up.
Arkady Itkin
San Francisco & Sacramento Employment Lawyer
http://www.sanfranciscoemploymentlawfirm.com