Employers must reasonably accommodate pregnant employees under state and federal laws. What those accommodations should be will vary depending on the needs of the employee and employer. If a pregnant employee asks for help but that request is denied, she should contact our office. Federal and state laws provide some protection for pregnant employees who want …
Are Employers Required to Accommodate Pregnant Employees? Read More »
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) guarantees that eligible employees will be provided leave to take care of a loved one with a serious medical condition. The FMLA also guarantees that upon return from FMLA Leave, the eligible employee will get his or her same or equivalent job back. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always …
Returning From FMLA Leave: Do You Still Have a Job? Read More »
The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not offer some sort of paid parental leave. And that’s a problem considering that today, women make up 47% of the workforce, and 40% of those women are the sole or primary breadwinners for their families. Study after study has shown the health and economic …
The Case for Paid Parental Leave in the United States Read More »
If you’ll soon be a parent, you need to do a lot of planning to make sure your new son or daughter is well cared for. One thing you can’t plan on is paid maternity or paternity leave to help you care for that newborn or adopted child. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is …
You Can Use Family Medical Leave for Maternity Leave, If You Don’t Need a Paycheck Read More »
We’ve previously discussed some of the challenges breastfeeding mothers face in the workplace. Our blog post titled “Breastfeeding Challenges for New Mothers Who Work Full-Time” examines laws and on-the-job difficulties employees encounter when breastfeeding or expressing milk. Currently, many breastfeeding mothers have a difficult road ahead of them. However, this shouldn’t stop an employee from …
Court Rejects Retaliation Claim of Fired Breastfeeding Employee Read More »
If you’re an employee who is pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you’ve probably wondered whether you’ll be able to take the necessary time off from work for the care and birth of your child. You might already know that there are several laws that deal with pregnancy and leave, but you may not be …
If you have grandchildren, you know that there’s never enough time or opportunities to see and spend time with them. A recent Washington Post column, “Grandparenting 101 for Baby Boomers,” makes it clear that today’s new grandparents are prepared to interact with their grandchildren more than previous generations of grandparents. But what if your child …
When it comes to protecting or helping caregivers, not all states are created equal. Federal laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, create a minimum level of employee benefits and rights (such as the minimum wage and protected unpaid family leave). However, states …
California and Minnesota: Taking Care of Families Read More »
Let’s say you are really sick. You believe that due to your illness, you need to take a leave of absence from work. You know that under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), you can take unpaid leave due to an illness, so you ask your boss for time off from work …
What Qualifies As a “Serious Health Condition” Under the FMLA? Read More »
In the news and on many people’s minds this week was the Supreme Court’s historic decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry and striking down bans on same-sex marriage across the country. But how will this decision affect family responsibilities discrimination? We look at this landmark decision …
This Week in Family Responsibilities Discrimination Read More »