Legal Question in Employment Law in District of Columbia

Forced To Go Part-Time

Hi, I have a friend who is a paralegal in a law firm. She's been with the firm for approximately 10 years, and has always had fantastic reviews. This past year, she had her second child, and due to both of her children being ill, she's had to take a lot of time off from work. Although she has a large amount of vacation time, the firm is telling her that she is not allowed to use the vacation time that she has accrued to take her children to doctors' appointments, etc. They said that if she doesn't have the sick time, that she has to take it as time off without pay. Furthermore, they have told her that she needs to switch her job status from full-time to part-time. This would cause a reduction in pay, and unnecessary hardship on her family.

Is this action legal on the part of the firm - to force her to go part-time? Does she have any recourse?

Thanks for your time.


Asked on 9/23/03, 11:16 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Forced To Go Part-Time

Your friend should be be eligible to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act(FMLA)in order to attend to her sick childrern, and to use the vacation time which she has accrued as part of the 12 weeks time alloted for this type of leave, which can, also, be taken intermittently, as required.

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Answered on 9/25/03, 7:23 pm


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