Legal Question in Employment Law in California

I have returned to work after a three month maternity leave and have found out that my full time job of eight hours a day has been cut in half to only four hours a day. Can my employer do this?


Asked on 5/20/10, 10:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

If and when you are denied legally protected leave, or are illegally discriminated or retaliated against because of requesting or taking the leave, or you are refused accommodation, then you can consider legal claims.

If your CA employer has at least 5 employees, they can not fire you because you are pregnant, must allow you to continue working as long as you are able, must 'reasonably' accommodate your disability, must allow up to 4 months of unpaid pregnancy leave under FEHA, and return to the same or an equivalent job upon return to work, with accrued benefits.

If your CA employer has at least 50 employees, and you are employed for at least 12 months, have at least 1,250 hours worked in the 12 months prior to the leave, then you would be eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid FMLA / CFRA maternity / medical leave when you are unable to work [or must care for an immediate family member] because of a �serious health condition� that is properly confirmed and documented by your doctor, continuation of group health benefits, restoration to the same or an equivalent job upon return to work, with accrued benefits. The leave may be taken on reasonable intermittent basis if that need is properly documented by your medical provider.

If you qualify for both, you get both. If you are out longer than those guarantees, they can fire you.

Now, if they violated those rules, contact me for the legal help you'll need. I'll be happy to do so. I've been doing these cases for over 20 years.

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Answered on 5/25/10, 12:37 pm


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