Silver Spring, MD Denial of Sick Leave Attorneys

Aggressive Denial of Sick Leave Attorneys Advocating for Clients in Silver Spring, Maryland

Under Maryland law, employees are entitled to sick leave to recover from illness and injury. This allows Maryland employees to focus on their own wellness without fear of losing their jobs or wages. Unfortunately, not all employers are willing to honor this right. If you have been unfairly denied sick leave, a Silver Spring employment law attorney can work with you to pursue a fair resolution.

At Melehy & Associates LLC, we are passionate about standing up for employee rights. We can help you appeal a denied sick leave request and explore your possible options for legal recourse if you have been discriminated against.

The Healthy Working Families Act

Under state law, all employers must provide employees with earned sick leave. This is part of the Healthy Working Families Act, which officially took effect in 2018.

Depending on the size of your workplace, you may be entitled to additional benefits. Employers with 15 or more employees must allow employees to accumulate paid sick leave, while employees with less than 15 employees must allow employees to accumulate unpaid leave. According to the law, employees accrue one hour of paid time off for every 30 hours worked.

There are only specific situations when an employee can use safe and sick leave, including recovering from an illness or injury, caring for a family member, maternity and paternity leave, or absences related to domestic violence. If your employer refuses to comply with the law, you can file a complaint with the state Department of Labor to get compensation or injunctive relief.

The Family and Medical Leave Act

In addition to state-level protections, employers are also required to comply with federal regulations regarding sick time. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles employees to roughly three months of unpaid sick leave per year. This unpaid leave may be used for recovering from health complications, caring for injured or sick family members, looking after a newborn child or addressing pregnancy complications, caring for a newly adopted child or foster child, or caring for a wounded or ailing military service member. The FMLA only applies if an employer employs 50 or more persons within a 75-mile radius of where you work.

You may have to present documentation, such as a doctor's note, in order to get approved for unpaid leave. Even after your request is approved, you may have to check back in with your employer regularly with updated documentation. At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can help you address complications that may arise with your request and advise you of how to respond if your request is denied.

What if My Sick Leave Request Is Denied?

If your request for sick leave has been unjustly denied, you should contact an attorney right away. You may be able to obtain compensation for lost wages and for other damages incurred by your employer's actions.

At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can represent you in negotiations and escalate your complaint to a trial if necessary. If your employer retaliates against you for requesting sick leave or filing a complaint, we can fight to obtain a full remedy on your behalf.

Meet With a Silver Spring Sick Leave Attorney

There are laws in place protecting your right to sick leave. If your employer has unlawfully denied your request for sick leave or punished you for requesting sick leave, Melehy & Associates LLC can help. Our Silver Spring FMLA lawyers are here to look out for your rights, providing skilled counsel and representation. To set up a free case evaluation, call our offices at 301-587-6364 or reach out to us through our online contact form.