Updated at: 30-08-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Learn more about the length of time after maternity leave before you can be dismissed.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees job security for medical leave of up to 12 weeks. You can take unpaid leave without worrying about losing your work according to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In order to qualify for leave, you must have worked for the company for at least a year and have averaged 24 hours a week during the past few months.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you can be forced to return to work before you’re ready or even get fired once your maternity leave is up.

Women should check with their employers to find out how long they will be protected by federal employment rules before returning to work after giving birth.

If You Are Fired from Work After Returning from Maternity Leave, You May Claim Wrongful Termination

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you last worked before taking paid or unpaid maternity leave; you have the right to resume your previous position upon your return. If they fire you instead of making reasonable accommodations so you can return to work, you may have a case for wrongful termination. Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason, such as pregnancy or return from Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. Both federal and state law prohibit wrongful termination.

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If your company fired you after you returned from maternity leave, you have the right to sue them. An attorney who specializes in discrimination based on pregnancy can help you pursue compensation that is legitimately yours.

What Are Your Rights Regarding Maternity Leave?

In the US, there is no law requiring employers to provide paid maternity leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act, however, allows for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a new mother (FMLA). Due to medical necessity, this time off is underpaid.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Employees who have worked 1,250 hours or more in a year are entitled to this vacation from companies with 50 or more employees. Some of the safeguards provided by law are as follows:

  • A period of up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave may be taken at any time.
  • Keeping one’s employer-provided health coverage at the group rate
  • being able to go back to work at your previous company or search for a new job that offers comparable benefits and salary
  • Resumption of employment following an absence

The state must be left immediately.

Some states provide additional benefits to pregnant mothers who take maternity leave. This leave may be paid or unpaid, depending on the state or country in which you reside. You have the legal right to return to the same or a comparable position with your former employer.

Maintain Your Position

Your company has an obligation to provide you with a comparable position if you need medical leave. You won’t get hired if you don’t have the necessary skills for the position. When you return to work after maternity leave, they can’t fire you unless they would have fired you anyhow.

Can Your Boss Fire You While You are on Maternity Leave or When You Return?

Your employer has the right to fire you while you are on maternity leave. You are protected against termination during your leave for a pregnancy. From time to time, businesses will need to reduce their staffing levels. This will lead to layoffs across an entire division. If you work in such field and take maternity leave, you can get fired.

Dismissal due to reasonable doubt.

Some client issues and complaints can be traced back to work that was performed several weeks or months ago. The possibility exists that it will arise during your maternity leave. If the problem or complaint is serious enough, your employer may seek to speak with you to get your side of the story before making any final decisions about your employment (as per company policy). They may decide to fire you after receiving the complaint or investigating the situation.

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The term “necessary layoff” cannot be used as grounds for terminating your employment during or after your maternity leave. When you take maternity leave, your employer has no legal right to terminate your employment. You are under no obligation to do anything you are uncomfortable with just because your superiors couldn’t find a replacement for you while you were out on maternity leave. There have been cases of retaliation and unfair termination because of maternity leave.

What Should You Do If You Are Terminated After Returning from Maternity Leave?

If you were terminated soon after returning to work from maternity leave, you may have a case for wrongful termination or retaliation. You have the ability to sue your employer in federal court if you take maternity leave in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You must file your FMLA claim within two years after the violation. You have three years from the date of your termination to launch a claim for damages if you feel your employer willfully violated the law in doing so.

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You might also have the right to sue under state law. Find out more about your rights and alternatives by consulting a local attorney who specializes in cases of pregnancy discrimination.

Are You Entitled to Compensation If You Are Fired from Work Due to Taking Maternity Leave?

Compensation for a victim of pregnancy discrimination or FMLA leave violations related to maternity leave is possible. You can seek remedies from the courts or from your employer. You may have choices include returning to your previous work with all of its rewards. The court may award damages for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional anguish.

Do You Need an Employment Lawyer to Help You File Your Claim for Wrongful Termination?

It’s against the law for an employer to fire a worker for taking maternity leave. An unlawful dismissal is one possible consequence of pregnancy-related discrimination and retribution. When filing a claim for discrimination or retaliation, it may be helpful to get the advice of an employment lawyer. They can help you file your claim with the right judicial or administrative body. Finally, after filing a complaint of employment discrimination, your attorney will be able to commence negotiations with your employer. Legal representation for pregnancy discrimination can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Our Experienced Wrongful Termination and Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys Are Here to Help

Medical leave is an option for new mothers who want to spend time bonding with their newborns. Your job should be waiting for you when you return. Contact the Derek Smith Law Group immediately if you were wrongfully fired or discriminated against after returning to work from a maternity leave.

Replacement is Unlawful… (Well, Sometimes its Unlawful…)

Most employers are unhappy when they find out one of their workers is expecting. Why? Taking an extended leave of absence would need you to be absent from work for some period. This is a major setback for the company. A mother’s return to work after having a baby may necessitate some time off for her to care for her new child.

It is common practice for employers to hire a replacement for a worker who goes on maternity leave. By not following the proper procedures, you risk breaking various laws.

An employee may be terminated while she is on maternity leave or shortly after her return from leave. It is unlawful for an employer to terminate an employee because of the employee’s pregnancy, maternity leave, or a handicap caused by the pregnancy. It is unlawful to fire a worker only because she is pregnant.

There is a risk of termination for female employees who are currently on or about to begin maternity leave. The employer’s actions were unlawful if they were motivated by the employee’s pregnancy, maternity leave, or impairment related to pregnancy. It is illegal to fire a worker only because she is pregnant.

Replacement of an employee on maternity leave is possible, but only under limited situations. A woman can be fired at any time, including while she is on maternity leave. How can a regular citizen detect if a law was broken?

Inform Yourself. Knowledge is Power When it Comes to Maternity Leave

In California, several laws have been passed to ensure the safety of pregnant women and new mothers while they are on leave from work. You should learn the California laws that protect women and how to report a violation of those laws. If you want to know how, keep reading:

  • The Californian Family Rights Act (CFRA),
  • Disablement Insurance Coverage During Pregnancy (PDL),
  • Law enacted in 1993 allowing workers to take time off for medical reasons (FMLA),
  • Reproductive discrimination
  • Low-Cost Alterations
  • A mother’s love for her kid
  • If this isn’t enough, add on.

What Should You Do?

There is indeed anything you can do, answering your earlier query. Actually, there is. If a woman’s employment is terminated while she is on maternity leave or upon her return to work, she should consult an attorney to determine whether or not she has a case.

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If you were terminated while on leave of absence, you should definitely take advantage of a lawyer’s free initial consultation. If you feel we are deserving of your time, please feel free to contact us. Our organization provides free counseling services to ladies in this situation every day.

If your employer has responded unfavorably to your pregnancy announcement or terminated your employment shortly afterward, please feel free to contact our firm for a free consultation.

FAQs

I was Terminated Shortly After I Returned From Maternity Leave. What Should I Do?

Attorneys in New York City defending the rights of employees

Worker rights attorneys in New York City

Get in touch with a lawyer who specializes in pregnancy discrimination if you were let go soon after returning from maternity leave. In the United States, discrimination against pregnant or nursing workers is illegal on the federal, state, and local levels. A termination of life may not be performed for reasons linked to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

According to federal regulations,

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may apply in a situation where an employee is fired for taking maternity leave (FMLA). When your company has 50 or more workers, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) kicks in, allowing you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a baby or bond with your new child. Taking FMLA leave during the first year after giving birth is required. The Family and Medical Leave Act ensures that a mother can take time off from her job if she needs to care for her newborn (FMLA). Closer you were to the start of your FMLA maternity leave, the more probable it is that your lawyer will be able to prove that your termination was timed improperly.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. This legislation contains the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), which outlaws discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, delivery, or related medical problems. Even while pregnancy is not a disability in and of itself, being fired after returning from an employer-provided maternity leave could be interpreted as discrimination.

Local and state regulations require

According to the New York State Human Rights Law, it is illegal for an employer to take adverse action against a pregnant worker, including dismissal or refusal to hire. Expectant mothers are protected from bias in pay, benefits, and other employment-related areas. In the state of New York, the Paid Family Leave program will cover a portion of your salary, or even your entire salary, while you are on maternity leave. The employee may apply for leave through the employer’s insurance carrier in the event of a qualifying event, such as the birth of a child, and get benefits from the insurer if the leave is accepted. Most private sector workers who become parents are entitled to eight weeks of unpaid leave during their first year back at work. Your employer must not stand in the way of you taking the paid leave of absence that the law requires you to take if you are pregnant.

In some cases, private sector employers may provide some form of maternity leave benefit. It’s possible to use both systems simultaneously if your company offers paid family leave. The New York Paid Family Leave program makes it easy to take time off without worrying about losing your job. The state will use the median weekly wage to calculate your payment. You may be possible to argue that you were fired because you took use of the New York Paid Family Leave program even if you are laid off after your maternity leave has ended.

The NYC Human Rights Law, which outlaws discrimination, also protects pregnant women, new mothers, and those experiencing complications during childbirth. Your employer in New York City has legal responsibility to ensure that pregnancy, childbirth, or physical concerns related to pregnancy or childbirth do not interfere with your ability to perform your job duties.

If you feel like you’ve been discriminated against due to your pregnancy, you should seek the advice of a lawyer.

If you feel like your company fired you because you took a maternity leave, you should talk to Phillips & Associates. Contact us at (866) 576-0794 or [email protected] if you have any questions. We represent clients in employment law matters in the five boroughs of New York City (Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx). Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are just some of the other counties we serve.

Can you fire someone right after maternity leave?

It is against the law for an employer to fire you for exercising your FMLA rights. Employees who are on FMLA leave are protected from termination or layoff if the reason for the action is unrelated to their leave. It’s the same as being fired without explanation.

How long is your job protected after maternity leave?

Where does the law leave off? Legislation does not mandate a certain amount of time spent at a single employer. However, many workers can take 12 weeks of job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Taking PFL while also using FMLA and/or CFRA is recommended for those concerned about keeping their jobs.

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Is your job guarantee after maternity leave?

Employers have a responsibility to their workers who take maternity or parental leave to reinstate them to the same or a comparable position upon their return. Employers are under no legal obligation to continue paying wages or benefits to employees while they are on leave unless otherwise specified in a collective bargaining agreement or individual employment contract.

Can you work another job while on maternity leave?

You are entitled to return to your position after maternity leave under the same terms and conditions as previously. Most certainly, you are an employee if your employer withholds tax and National Insurance from your paycheck.

Can my employer refuse to reduce my hours after maternity leave?

Many new mothers are interested in working part-time, and some employers are amenable to negotiating flexible schedules with their employees. There is no presumptive entitlement to a reduced work schedule or the option to work part-time or flexibly after the birth of a child.

What is the average weight gain during pregnancy? A woman’s body requires about 300 extra calories per day to have a healthy baby.

When my doctor tells me I’m at high risk for gestational diabetes, should I be worried? Constant thirst, frequent urination, and extreme fatigue are among symptoms of this type of diabetes that you or your partner may notice.

Where may mourning parents turn to once their kid has died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)? There is no prescribed time frame within which one should mourn the death of a child. It’s important to reach out to someone who can provide emotional support right now.

Before you turn in for the night, create an environment that is conducive to sleep by eliminating all sources of noise and light. If you’re having trouble drifting off to sleep, this should help.

On the other hand, pregnant women may benefit from sleeping on their backs because this position lowers blood pressure in the capillaries serving the uterus.

Due to hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout pregnancy, the nine months of pregnancy can also bring about emotional changes, such as moodiness.

Plan your daily activities and share your experiences with others to better prepare for the unexpected. For instance, while some women may experience an increase in happiness, others may experience an increase in irritability.

How to make regular clothes into maternity clothes

Maternity clothes should be comfortable and practical, so choose those that are soft, stretchy, and simple to put on and take off. Shirts, dresses, and skirts that aren’t designed for pregnant women can still be worn by non-pregnant women, provided they have enough leeway in the bust and waist and enough length in the front to allow for comfortable bending and sitting.

Do you recommend breast implants after pregnancy?

Since your body requires time to recuperate after giving birth, surgery should be delayed until after you’ve had a chance to decide if you want any extra procedures.

After having birth, a woman’s physique and breasts change dramatically, and she may question whether she likes them as they are or would benefit from invasive surgery to change them.

Some women may desire their boobs back to how they were before pregnancy, but this may not be possible or even good for them, depending on how many children they have already had.

Women who are thinking about getting breast implants may have many questions.

My patients’ primary concerns before surgery were pain and prolonged recovery timeframes, both of which can amplify preexisting apprehensions.

When you leave our clinic, your expectations for getting back to your regular schedule may be too high. However, you will need to relax after surgery because you will likely be very tired.

Even if you’ve never had surgery before, factors like your diet, smoking habits, and overall health can slow your recovery time.

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How do maternity pants work?

You will need maternity jeans that can expand with your tummy as your pregnancy develops. They are more comfortable to wear all day long than other maternity clothes since they stretch.

You can wear your maternity pants to work or school when the weather is too warm for tights but not warm enough to wear regular trousers. The most frequent type of maternity pants is the full-length variety.

What do I need?

If you’re going to buy some new clothes, try them on beforehand. Go to a Motherhood Maternity store (if there is one in your area!) if you can, as the staff there will know how to best suit your body during pregnancy and after giving birth.

You can wear your maternity pants to work or school when the weather is too warm for tights but not warm enough to wear regular trousers. The most frequent type of maternity pants is the full-length variety.