Legal Question in Medical Leave in Massachusetts
terminated and on maternity leave
My company recently did a large layoff. My department was completely shut down in this layoff, and I was told that my termination date would be the same day as the other lay offs. I am on Family Medical Leave, and was under the impression that my termination date couldn't be until that leave was over. Are they allowed to terminate me a month ahead of my FML being completed? The parent company as a whole is still in business, and our offshoot business/department is closing. The close is not complete as of yet, but winding it's way down.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: terminated and on maternity leave
Yes, they can if your position was eliminated though a legitimate reduction in force while you are on FMLA, which, from your facts, sounds like what happened.
See the Dept. of Labor's website at: www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/fmla/eb6.asp for more info.