Question:
Can I be fired?
Okay, I'm back, I just have so many questions and I have found this web-site so informative. Well, my situation is this. I had my son last September and was on maternity leave for 6 months(paid), and now I have the Lap RNY done under FMLA, will they say "enough is enough", seeing how I will probably be out a couple of more months? Can they fire me over that? — Tanya F. (posted on June 27, 2003)
June 27, 2003
If your employer is a "hire at will" they may be able to legally
do so. However, if your surgery goes well, you should not need to take off
anymore than a few weeks. Why don't you work with your employer to
schedule the surgery at a time where they can afford to be without you?
This would show them your willingness to work with them.
— Cindy R.
June 27, 2003
I want to know how you got 6 months paid maternity leave? Who do you work
for? Are there any openings? I'll move to Chicago!! Not that I'm planning
any more kids (my "babies" (twins) will be 21 next month. But,
man oh man, sounds like a great company. Anyway, if you did not use FMLA
for your maternity leave and you can use it for this, you cannot be fired.
That's what FMLA is all about. On the other hand, if they want to get rid
of you, any excuse will do and there are lots of ways of doing that.
However, if any of your maternity leave was considered FMLA you may have
already used your 470 hours in a 12 month period. So you may have a
problem. Boy, I'm a lot of help!!! Good luck.
— Sunny S.
June 27, 2003
Unless you have complications (which we pray you won't) you should be out a
couple of weeks not months. Good Luck!
— Ponselle E.
June 28, 2003
I am a supv with the government and have had to deal with FMLA many times.
It is an ENTITLEMENT given to us by President Clinton and if you have over
a certain number of people working in your organization (not sure but
thinking 50 - 100) it applies to everyone in the USA. It is not a courtesy
given to you by management! You are ENTITLED to 12 wks of unpaid leave
each year if you have worked 1250 hours in that year (including paid sick
leave). If you were off for 6 months paid last year and have worked 1250
hrs with this company, you have a right to invoke FMLA. FMLA doesn't pay
you while you are off, but it guarantees that you will have a job when you
come back to work at the same pay and equal to the job you had when you
went out. As far as only being off a few weeks with lap rny, I guess that
is hard to determine since it is an indivdual thing and depends on how fast
you heal, etc. Good luck to you!
— Mylou52
June 28, 2003
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/fmla.htm
— RebeccaP
June 29, 2003
Hi. I am in the HR profession, so I'll be glad to answer your question...
FMLA allows you to take up to 12 weeks of leave (unpaid--unless your
employer pays you or requires you to take your sick/vac leave) in a 12
month period. If they use 12 months rolling, then your 12 months would
have started on the first day of your time off last September. After you
have been off the 12 weeks, they are under no obligation to you. Within
the 12 weeks, the employer also has the option of placing you in a
different position when you return, as long as it has equal pay, benefits
and responsibilities. In short, yes, they can terminate you IF your leave
goes beyone the allowed 12 weeks. And keep in mind, it is 12 weeks all
together, not 12 for maternity and another 12 for surgery. Good luck!
— CindyOakes
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