Leave Rights in California: Part 1 (2023)
Getting hurt or sick is no fun, but what’s worse is worrying that you’ll lose your job if you take time off to recover. That’s why employee medical leaves are protected under both the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the analogous California Family Rights Act (CFRA).
Am I eligible?
Unfortunately, FMLA/CFRA does not protect all workers, only those who have:
- worked at least one year for their employer,
- have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year, and
- whose employer has at least 50 employees working within 75 miles of the employee’s worksite.
According to U.S. Department of Labor June 2007 report, the eligibility requirements for FMLA/CFRA means that only 76.1 million workers out of 141.7 million total U.S. workers, or 53%, are eligible for FMLA protection (the other 47% have to rely on their employer’s leave policies).
How much medical leave is allowed under FMLA/CFRA?
Under FMLA/CFRA, employees are entitled to take a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, seriously ill family member or for their own serious illness (under FMLA but not CFRA, this includes incapacity due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions). You may be entitled to an extension of leave past the 12 week maximum if you have a mental or physical disability that requires a leave extension as an accommodation of that disability (this assumes the employer is aware or has been informed of your disability and/or associated work restrictions). It is illegal for an employer to treat you differently or punish you for taking medical leave. You also have a right to be reinstated to your position upon return from your medical leave unless you are a “key employee”.
Is the leave paid or unpaid?
FMLA/CFRA (and PDLL) leaves are unpaid. According to the AFL-CIO, the lack of paid leave ”presents a significant obstacle for those who cannot afford to take FMLA leave”. This claim is backed up by a 2000 Westat Report which found that the most commonly noted reason for not taking leave was inability to afford it.
Of course, if you’re lucky, your employer will choose to pay you during such leaves, or apply your paid sick leave/vacation time to your medical leave.
What if I’m pregnant?
If you are incapacitated due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, you may qualify for 4 months of leave under the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL). You can then take an additional 12 weeks of CFRA (but not FMLA) leave “for reason of the birth of her child, if the child has been born by this date” and assuming you have enough time left in your CFRA bank. 2 Cal. Code of Regs. § 7291.13(c).
Note, the above eligibility requirements for FMLA/CFRA do not apply to PDLL. To qualify for PDLL, you need only work for an employer who has 5 or more employees.
Conclusion
In Part 2, I will discuss whether FMLA/CFRA has been good for the workplace and what further improvements can and should be made, if any.
If you believe your employer has interfered with or retaliated against your medical leave rights, contact a lawyer right away as strict filing deadlines may apply.
New law: ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MUST REPORT TO GAVIN NEWSOME’S MANSION NOW. OTHERS MUST REPORT TO NANCY PELOSI’S MANSION NOW. SHE HAS GREAT ICE CREAM. FREE FOOD. FREE MEDICAL CARE. FREE BEDROOMS. COME NOW PLEASE. AND ALL THE RADICAL MUSLIM REFUGEES THAT THE DEMS LOVE, PLEASE SIGN YOUR KIDS UP FOR THE SAME PRIVATE SCHOOL NEWSOME’S KIDS GO.
HOW DOES EXEMPT STATUS AFFECT “UNPAID LEAVE” WHEN THERE IS NO PTO OR SICK TIME LEFT? CAN EMPLOYEE BE DOCKED BASED ON AN HOURLY BASIS? COMPANY POLICY IS THAT PTO FOR EXEMPT EMPLOYEES MUST BE USED IN 4 HOUR BLOCKS, WHICH BURNS IT OUT FAST WHEN ONLY AN HOUR OR TWO IS NEEDED. 2 HOUR MINIMUM FOR SICK TIME APPLIES. I CAN’T GET AN ANSWER FROM HR. WORK EMAIL BELOW.
I have been employed at my job for almost three years. I recently had a hysterectomy and was going to out for up to six weeks. I was released early and am only going to be out for three weeks. My office mgr is now saying that she is only going to let me come back part time. Is this legal?
Sounds like disability discrimination / medical leave retaliation. What was the employer’s explanation for putting you on part time?
My husband went off work not feeling well- we found out he was in final stages of heart failure and almost died. Spent 3 months in hospital and an Lvad placed – his employer just called us and said his 12 weeks are up and he is going to loose his position and insurance- he has another heart procedure the 21st of July – can they do this? Can’t it be extended?
I’ve been working for my job for 5 months now, and when flu season hits, it hits hard. I work in sports with children, so my chances of getting sick are even higher than most. I was not feeling my best one day, and started experiencing flu-like symptoms (chills, nausea). I threw up 3 times at work that day, was expected to stay through the remainder of my classes, and come in the next day even if my symptoms were the same or worse. If I chose to stay home and did not receive a dr’s note, but was experiencing the same symptoms they made me work through the day prior, are they justified for punishing me, or does that fall under an “unhealthy/unsafe work environment?
Under California paid sick leave laws, you must be allowed to take at least 3 paid sick days a year. The employer may not require you to produce a doctor’s note or other proof of sickness either. It sounds to me like you should file a labor board complaint for paid sick leave denial and possibly retaliation.
I’ve been at my job for six years. I am on medical leave for two weeks now and I was about to see my doctor when I was informed that I no longer have health insurance. According to my doctor the company I work for terminated my benefits.
Can an employer cancel your health benefits without notice while you are out on medical leave?
Been working for my employer for 5+ years, I saw an orthopedic surgeon for my sciatic nerve, doctor wanted me on modified duties which my employer/hr/administrated would not accommodate me for so for 5 weeks I was forced to stay home unpaid while waiting for insurance approval in the end procedure was denied because surgeon didn’t accept my insurance took them 5 weeks to figure that out I had to surrender all my vacation time to pay roll working for a USD we as employees can not apply for/file claims for disability or unemployment. How can I re-coup those 5 weeks of lost wages and do I have a case and do I need a lawyer?
OK, so I’ve been working for my employer since 2009. I was put on FMLA leave in Aug. of 2015. I hadn’t used it all up. My doctor put me on temporary disability in April of 2016. I am unable to return to work. I just recieved a letter from my employer stating that if I do not return to work in approx. 2 weeks, Dec. 1st, 2016. I am terminated. Can they legally do this?
yes well described
so you don’t have to worry about anything because you have leave rights
Great information!! My mom has worked for Walmart for 6 years & it seems they have every right to change their rules. No more sick pay, No more excused sick days not even with a doctors note, No more set availability if your availability isn’t open you will only get less than 35 hours if even that. There has to be something that can been down, they are horrible to their employees. They allow 25 year old Department Managers to constantly belittle her, place items on rack to fall on my mom deliberately & make her do their job, she has complaint but the sweep it under rug. This is just a little of what goes on to their associates under Walmart’s supervision. It’s unsafe, unhealthy & discriminating.
Walmart is notorious for treating its employees poorly. You might want to ask a lawyer about some of the things they’re doing. California has a new paid sick leave law that went into effect on 1/1/16, for instance.
Employers should ALWAYS keep in mind as well that, just because the employee has exhausted the allowed leave under FMLA/CFRA/PDLL, issues may still arise as to disability discrimination. If the medical condition prompting the leave is a known disability, engagement in the interactive process and reasonable accommodation are required.
Indeed a very informative and useful post shared. Its really interesting to read the benefits CA provides at length.
Very informative post. Hope part 2 is equally interesting to read!
Well written..Great deal of great information .Thanks for sharing..
Good article, Eugene.
To my understanding CA gives you all these wonderful benefits ( 4 months, CFRA) only if eligible if you have 5+employees as of 2012 (you are also entitled to a continuation of benefits/insurance under the new laws). Which brings me to my question. My employer is split between NYC and CA and we have a total of 8 employees (4 in NYC and 4 in LA), we are paid by an LP (Liimited Partnership) out of NY. I understand that CA law prevails in most cases. But would we be looked at as a company of 8 employees or only 4 in CA? I’m 7 months pregnant and would like to take advantage of this law, as my employer in NY is asking 6 weeks of me, which is unrealistic. Any advice?
I didn’t know that employees are entitled to take a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, seriously ill family member or for their own serious illness.
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Good. I think company should be good to their employees, they should use good labor law posters.
Interesting that you can stack, so to speak, your federal and state benefits in California.
This was a very comprehensive article, good job. I’d just like to add that while both the FMLA and CFRA leave benefits are indeed unpaid, some California employees, particularly pregnant women may avail of Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits if they’re also covered by the State Disability Insurance aside from the job-protected benefits of the FMLA or the CFRA.
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Really helpful info.You have cleared all my queries and doubt and I am looking forward to read the 2nd part of this topic..
Good Info