Legal Question in Employment Law in California

California law does not require an employer to provide sick leave. While San Francisco has a sick leave ordinance, I know of no such ordinance anywhere in southern California.

Your employer's policy may seem unfair, but it does not appear to be illegal. The closest law on point is that an employer must reasonably accommodate a disability. A routine cold or other illness does not qualify as a "disability" that must be accommodated with time off. At-will employees, moreover, can be terminated for any reason that is not considered unlawful discrimination under the law. They also cannot be terminated in retaliation for certain types of conduct. Terminating an employee for excessive absenteeism is not unlawful.

Legal?

Of course. It is standard practice at many large companies. Attendance problems are always grounds for termination.

In general, unless an employee is civil service, in a union, or has a written employment contract, they are an 'at will' employee that can be disciplined or terminated any time for any reason, with or without �cause�, explanation or notice.

Any employee's goal should be to keep their supervisors happy and make them look good to the company, and make the company money. That�s how the company pays employee wages. If you don't, then don't be surprised to be replaced.