Receiving a serious medical diagnosis that requires surgery can be stressful. There are countless things to worry about, but you shouldn’t have to worry about losing your job while you are unable to work.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) lets you take unpaid leave for family and medical reasons. The FMLA protects your job during this time and healthcare benefits continue as well. Not everybody is allowed to utilize the FMLA because your and your employer must meet specific requirements.
To qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act, you must meet the following requirements:
If you qualify for leave, you may use up to 12 weeks of leave within a year for any of the following reasons:
Additionally, you may be able to take up to 26 weeks of leave during a year to care for a covered family member who is in the military.
If your employer has denied your FMLA request, but you believe you qualify for the leave, consider speaking with an employment lawyer. They can help identify the options available to you and what the next steps are moving forward.