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Family and Medical Leave Act

Family and Medical Leave ActNew Jersey Employment Attorneys Protecting Your Family and Medical Leave Rights

Do you or a family member have a serious medical condition that requires you to take time off from work? Have you been denied rightful Family and Medical Leave Act protected leave or suffered retaliation because you took a leave of absence? Has your employer taken some disciplinary action against you because you have "too many absences?"

Whether you are in need of a leave of absence to seek medical care or recover from a serious medical condition, to care for a newborn baby, or care for a chronically ill loved one, you may have a right to take up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid leave off from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If you have been discriminated against because you asked for the time off or if you have been wrongfully terminated for taking deserved time off, you may have a legal claim against your employer.

We can protect your rights to take a much-needed leave of absence from work without penalty. Our employment law attorneys know how hard it is to face uncertainty and hostility in the workplace while dealing with a serious medical condition. Our firm offers our clients the support, knowledge and communication they need and deserve. We work with our clients to help them make informed choices about the action that they want us to take. We tenaciously, vigorously and knowledgeably pursue our clients' goals.

FMLA Eligibility Rules

If you have been employed at the same job for more than one year and your employer is a public employer or has more than 50 employees, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off without fear of losing your job if:

  • You are an eligible employee
  • Your employer is an eligible employer
  • If you or a family are suffering from a serious health condition requiring you to take leave
What Rights Does the FMLA Provide to Employees
  • Time Off Without Penalty: FMLA allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually, either intermittently, in days, weeks or hours, or consecutively.
  • Hold Job or Equivalent Position: When FMLA leave is over and the employee returns to work, the employee must be allowed to return the same job or an equivalent position that he or she held prior to taking the medical leave
It is Unlawful for an Employer to Retaliate Against an Employee for Exercising their FMLA Rights

In order to have a claim for retaliation under the FMLA, the employee must make a prima facie case that:

  1. he or she engaged in a protected activity;
  2. was subjected to an adverse employment action; and
  3. a casual link existed between the protected activity and the adverse employment action.

Once an employee establishes a prima facie case, the employer has the burden of offering proof of a nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action. If the employer satisfies that burden, the employee will then have prove that 'but for' the discriminatory purpose he or she would not have been terminated.

It is Unlawful for an Employer to Interfere with an Employee's FMLA Rights

The FMLA makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with, restrain or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise any right or benefit provided by the FMLA. An employer’s interference with the exercise of an employee’s rights under the FMLA includes not only refusing to authorize FMLA leave, but discouraging an employee from using such leave and manipulation by a covered employer to avoid responsibilities under the FMLA. In order to prove a case under the FMLA interference, the employee must show that he or she was entitled to benefits under the FMLA and that he or she was denied them. The employee does not need to show that the employer treated other employees more or less favorably and the employer cannot justify its actions by showing that it did not intend it or it had a legitimate business reason for it. A FMLA claim for entitlement or interference is not about discrimination, but instead, whether the employer provided its employees the entitlements guaranteed by the FMLA.

Our New Jersey FMLA Lawyers

To learn more about how an experienced New Jersey FMLA lawyer at Smith Eibeler can help you, please contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced employment attorneys.

DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
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We had a wrongful termination issue combined with a denial of unemployment insurance. Chris Eibeler was our primary attorney. His partner Bob Smith also consulted and gave us good advice. They were both so kind, caring, and professional. They guided us though a very tough time and a positive outcome versus a prior employer. They were also able to reverse our denial of unemployment insurance. I cannot recommend Smith and Eibeler highly enough. The entire staff is very professional, personable, and caring. Tom Wilson
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I went to Smith Eibeler LLC for a last minute unemployment matter. Chris, Diane and his staff were very professional and easy to talk to. They provided knowledgeable insight and also kept me in the loop with the what was happening. I would not hesitate to go to him again. John Jung
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Chris Eibeler (and the whole team) is very knowledgeable in all aspects of employment/unemployment here in NJ. They break down the most difficult aspects of the law, which allows you to conceptualize and better understand the complexities of the NJ Labor & Employment system. Smith Eibeler should be your first call regarding any Employment, workforce, or Labor questions here in New Jersey. I highly recommend them. Brian Allen
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I approached Chris Eibeler regarding an unemployment case in early 2016. Him and his staff are some of the most professional people I have ever dealt with. The process took a while, but his approach to hard questioning helped me win my case. He knows how to get the job done and I am glad I went to him. I would recommend him to anyone in the future who asks for a lawyer. Thank you Chris! Tim F.
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I highly recommend the office of Smith Eibeler for employment related issues, particularly anything related to restrictive covenants or post-employment contracts. I found Smith Eibeler via the web and cannot believe how fortunate I am to have found them. My case was handled by Bob Smith who represented me in a potential lawsuit by my former employer for violation of a post-employment contract (not a restrictive covenant per se). Bob was professional, friendly, understanding, and above all extremely helpful. Bob helped me avoid a lawsuit and was extremely knowledgeable in this field. I was thoroughly impressed with his prowess. Hopefully I will never have a legal issue related to employment again, but if I do, I will not hesitate to retain Smith Eibeler again! Gavin Tully

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