Leaves and Time Off From Work
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Understanding Your Rights
You may want to get a note from your healthcare provider to support your accommodation request. Or your employer may tell you to ask your doctor to fill out medical forms. Check out this FAQ on medical paperwork to learn what information your employer is allowed – and not allowed – to ask for.
Telling Your Boss About Your Pregnancy
Figuring out how to manage pregnancy and work can be challenging. This guide can help. It explains your legal protections and gives you practical tips on when to tell your boss, what to say, and how to ask for time off and workplace changes you may need.
Guidelines for Drafting Work Accommodation Notes for Pregnant and Postpartum Patients
You may want to give your doctor, midwife, or other care provider our guide that explains how to write a work note. Following this guide will give your employer the information it needs while protecting your privacy as much as possible. Download this guide and share it with your healthcare provider when you ask for a work note.
Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Your Workplace Rights
This guide gives an overview of your legal rights and options at work when you are experiencing mental health conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Related Medical Conditions: Common Workplace Limitations and Reasonable Accommodations Explained
View workable accommodations for typical pregnancy-related conditions. Speak with your doctor about what is best for you.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Understanding Your Rights
You may want to get a note from your healthcare provider to support your accommodation request. Or your employer may tell you to ask your doctor to fill out medical forms. Check out this FAQ on medical paperwork to learn what information your employer is allowed – and not allowed – to ask for.
Labor Unions: Duty of Fair Representation
A union owes a duty of fair representation to all of the workers it represents. This duty requires that the union act fairly, impartially, and without ill will or discrimination when pursuing a worker"s grievance or when negotiating a new contract with the employer.
Undocumented Workers' Employment Rights
With a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Paid Family Leave Eligibility
Requirements for paid family leave under State Disability Insurance.
Paid Family Leave Eligibility
Requirements for paid family leave under State Disability Insurance.
Paid Family Leave Eligibility
Requirements for paid family leave under State Disability Insurance.
Using FMLA Leave to Care for an Adult Child with a Disability
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons, including to care for a child with a serious health condition. This fact sheet explains when workers may use FMLA leave to care for a child with a serious health condition if the child is 18 or older and incapable of self-care because of a disability.
Work-Leave, the ADA, and the FMLA
The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ADA grant leaves of absence.
California Paid Sick Leave Update
There are new requirements for employees to have paid sick leave.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
California Paid Sick Leave Update
There are new requirements for employees to have paid sick leave.
12 Facts about Employment Law
In most circumstances, employers can terminate employees “at will,” meaning at any time for any reason. And they are not even required by law to give the reason for a discharge. Read more from the links below.
Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Your Workplace Rights
This guide gives an overview of your legal rights and options at work when you are experiencing mental health conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Military Caregiver Leave for a Veteran under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave to support or care for a family member who is a covered veteran with a serious injury or illness.
Military Employment Rights
The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (the "Reservists Act") is the federal law that provides job and benefit protection for U.S. Military Reservists.
Paid Family Leave Eligibility
Requirements for paid family leave under State Disability Insurance.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Understanding Your Rights
You may want to get a note from your healthcare provider to support your accommodation request. Or your employer may tell you to ask your doctor to fill out medical forms. Check out this FAQ on medical paperwork to learn what information your employer is allowed – and not allowed – to ask for.
Qualifying Exigency Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave for certain reasons, known as qualifying exigencies, when their spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or under an impending call to covered active duty.
Undocumented Workers' Employment Rights
With a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Work-Leave, the ADA, and the FMLA
The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ADA grant leaves of absence.
Wrongful Termination
The general rule in California is that employees are considered to employed "at will," meaning that they may be fired at any time by their employers, for any reason or for no reason at all. However, there are important exceptions to the "at will" rule.
Undocumented Workers' Employment Rights
With a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Ask WomensLaw.org a Question!
The purpose of this Email Hotline is for WomensLaw to provide basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support. The purpose of this Email Hotline is to provide U.S.-based legal information related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. All emails are answered or reviewed by an attorney. However, we cannot provide legal advice or representation and we cannot call you on the phone. You can expect to receive a response within 1-5 business days.
Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF)
What are your rights as a worker? What Is the Underground Economy? Report a bad employer.
Airline Flight Crew Employees under the FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet summarizes eligibility, leave calculation, and recordkeeping requirements unique to airline flight crew employees under the FMLA.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Ask WomensLaw.org a Question!
The purpose of this Email Hotline is for WomensLaw to provide basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support. The purpose of this Email Hotline is to provide U.S.-based legal information related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. All emails are answered or reviewed by an attorney. However, we cannot provide legal advice or representation and we cannot call you on the phone. You can expect to receive a response within 1-5 business days.
California Paid Sick Leave Update
There are new requirements for employees to have paid sick leave.
Counting Leave Use under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains how to count the amount of leave available and amount of leave used under the FMLA.
Employee Protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains the rights of employees during FMLA leave and when they return to work from FMLA leave.
12 Facts about Employment Law
In most circumstances, employers can terminate employees “at will,” meaning at any time for any reason. And they are not even required by law to give the reason for a discharge. Read more from the links below.
FLSA Protections for Employees to Pump Breast Milk at Work
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most nursing employees have the right to reasonable break time and a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view to express breast milk while at work. This right is available for up to one year after the child’s birth.
Guidelines for Drafting Work Accommodation Notes for Pregnant and Postpartum Patients
You may want to give your doctor, midwife, or other care provider our guide that explains how to write a work note. Following this guide will give your employer the information it needs while protecting your privacy as much as possible. Download this guide and share it with your healthcare provider when you ask for a work note.
Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF)
What are your rights as a worker? What Is the Underground Economy? Report a bad employer.
Labor Unions: Duty of Fair Representation
A union owes a duty of fair representation to all of the workers it represents. This duty requires that the union act fairly, impartially, and without ill will or discrimination when pursuing a worker"s grievance or when negotiating a new contract with the employer.
Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act When You and Your Spouse Work for the Same Employer
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. When spouses work for the same employer and are both eligible to take FMLA leave, the FMLA provides that they share the amount of leave they may take for some, but not all, FMLA-qualifying leave reasons. This fact sheet explains the amount of FMLA leave available to spouses who work for the same employer.
Medical Certification under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical, reasons. This fact sheet explains the medical certification process when an employee requests leave for his or her own or a family member's serious health condition, if requested by the employer.
Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Your Workplace Rights
This guide gives an overview of your legal rights and options at work when you are experiencing mental health conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Military Caregiver Leave for a Current Servicemember under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave to care for a family member who is a current servicemember with a serious injury or illness.
Military Caregiver Leave for a Veteran under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave to support or care for a family member who is a covered veteran with a serious injury or illness.
Military Employment Rights
The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (the "Reservists Act") is the federal law that provides job and benefit protection for U.S. Military Reservists.
Non-Profit Organizations and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
This fact sheet provides general information about how the FLSA applies to non-profit organizations. The FLSA is the Federal law which sets minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor standards. There are two ways in which an employee can be covered by the law and therefore entitled to its protections: "enterprise coverage" and "individual coverage."
Paid Family Leave Eligibility
Requirements for paid family leave under State Disability Insurance.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Related Medical Conditions: Common Workplace Limitations and Reasonable Accommodations Explained
View workable accommodations for typical pregnancy-related conditions. Speak with your doctor about what is best for you.
Qualifying Exigency Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave for certain reasons, known as qualifying exigencies, when their spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or under an impending call to covered active duty.
Reasons that Workers May Take Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains reasons that workers may take FMLA leave.
Requesting Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains how employees request FMLA leave.
Telling Your Boss About Your Pregnancy
Figuring out how to manage pregnancy and work can be challenging. This guide can help. It explains your legal protections and gives you practical tips on when to tell your boss, what to say, and how to ask for time off and workplace changes you may need.
The Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons. This fact sheet explains FMLA benefits and protections.
Undocumented Workers' Employment Rights
With a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.
Using FMLA Leave Because of a Family Member's Military Service
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides workers with job-protected leave from work for certain family, medical, and military family leave reasons. This fact sheet explains when workers may use leave to support or care for a family member because of their military service.
Using FMLA Leave to Care for an Adult Child with a Disability
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave from work for family and medical reasons, including to care for a child with a serious health condition. This fact sheet explains when workers may use FMLA leave to care for a child with a serious health condition if the child is 18 or older and incapable of self-care because of a disability.
Work-Leave, the ADA, and the FMLA
The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ADA grant leaves of absence.
Wrongful Termination
The general rule in California is that employees are considered to employed "at will," meaning that they may be fired at any time by their employers, for any reason or for no reason at all. However, there are important exceptions to the "at will" rule.