It doesn’t take a law degree to know that getting terminated from your job based merely on announcing your pregnancy is wrong. That situation has the potential for discrimination. If your company is larger than fifteen people, your rights are protected by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). However, termination is not the only way pregnant […]

The Best Time to Tell Your Employer You’re Pregnant
Your employer cannot discriminate against you because you’re pregnant. You can’t be turned down for promotions or projects, or terminated based solely on your pregnancy. However, some employers push the anti-discrimination law to its outer limits. If you think your employer will react badly to your happy news, announce it at the best possible time […]

What is the Difference Between Short-Term Disability and FMLA?
Americans have issues taking days off. In fact, surveys show that most workers end up taking only half of their paid vacation time. That’s why it’s surprising that a company might try to keep an employee from unpaid leave – especially when they may be allowed certain absences by law. What’s more, similar to paid […]

Will I Still Receive a Paycheck While on FMLA?
While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 does provide peace of mind for job protection, it doesn’t always ease the financial stress of the medical bills and everyday expenses that can pile up during unpaid leave. Ensuring at least some income for approved time off is essential for most, but it’s hard […]

Can I Be Fired or Disciplined for Using FMLA?
Although Florida is an at-will work state, employment law still dictates certain policies that protect employees from wrongful termination. The 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is one such provision that was put in place to maintain a worker’s job role and reputation during eligible leave. Can an employer fire or discipline a worker […]

What You Need to Know About Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace
Pregnancy should be a happy time. For some women, however, it can come with anxiety over employer perceptions. In certain cases, these concerns may escalate if an employer’s opinions devolve to harassment and discrimination, leading to a hostile work environment. According to The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), pregnancy is protected from discrimination related to general […]

Employment law, pregnancy and maternity leave in Florida: What are your rights?
Many people think that employers can arbitrarily fire employees who become pregnant, on the grounds that they will either miss too much work or are no longer physically able to do their jobs. In some cases, that’s actually true. However, in others, pregnant women do have legal protection against employment discrimination and unfair termination under […]

How to Complete An FMLA Form For A Family Member
When faced with a serious illness or injury, it can be very difficult to know what steps to take to ensure you are well taken care of and adequate communication is relayed to your employer. To that , it can often be even more difficult to properly understand which avenues to take when dealing with […]

Pregnant in the Workplace
Congratulations! You have just learned you are pregnant. I wish you the very best! But I’m sure you have questions about how this could impact your job. As a mom, I know your focus will be on your health and the health of your baby. As a professional woman, let me also share with you […]