Taking time off to deal with a medical condition isn’t a luxury; it’s a legal right. But many workers in Los Angeles get punished for putting their health first. Our Los Angeles medical leave lawyers can help if your boss denied your time off, cut your hours after your return, or started treating you differently the moment you got sick.
At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, we have been standing up for people who’ve been told to “just push through it” for almost a decade. Our Los Angeles employment lawyers can help protect your job and your peace of mind. Reach out to us today.
What Counts as Medical Leave in California?
Medical leave protects your job when you need time off for a serious health condition. This includes physical or mental conditions that prevent you from working or require ongoing care. Common examples include:
- Surgery and recovery time
- Cancer treatment and immunotherapy
- Severe anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Pregnancy-related complications
- Inpatient care or recurring treatments like dialysis
You don’t need to tell your employer everything. But you do need to provide basic notice and documentation. A Los Angeles medical leave attorney can help you do that in a way that protects your privacy and your position.
Do I Qualify for Protected Medical Leave?
In California, most workers qualify under one of two laws:
You must:
- Work for a company with at least five employees (for CFRA)
- Have worked there for at least 12 months
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year
If you meet these standards, you may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. You also have the right to return to your same or a similar position.
Some employees qualify for additional leave under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) law. You may have more legal protections than your employer lets on. We’ll help you use all of them.
What Employers Can’t Do
Once you qualify for medical leave, your employer can’t interfere with your time off. They can’t fire you for taking it, demote you when you return, or pretend you never qualified in the first place. Any delay or denial must have a legitimate reason, not just inconvenience.
But retaliation isn’t always dramatic. Some employers act supportive, only to chip away at your position later. They might cut your hours, reassign you to a dead-end role, or suddenly decide that your performance is a problem.
If anything changed right after your leave, a Los Angeles medical leave attorney can help you determine whether the shift was legal or retaliatory.
What Doesn’t Count as Protected Leave?
Not every absence qualifies under California or federal medical leave laws. Routine illnesses like colds, flus, or minor injuries usually don’t count unless they prevent you from working or require ongoing care. The law also doesn’t protect last-minute absences when you haven’t given notice or proper documentation.
That doesn’t mean your employer gets to decide what’s “serious” and what’s not. If you have a documented condition and have followed the rules, your rights are protected, even if your employer acts like they aren’t.
We’ve seen companies twist facts, cherry-pick timelines, or use vague policies to avoid responsibility. A Los Angeles medical leave lawyer can help you cut through the excuses and hold them accountable.
Can I Take Leave for Mental Health Reasons?
Yes. Both federal and California laws recognize that mental health conditions can be just as disabling as physical ones.
You can take protected leave for conditions like:
- PTSD
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety requiring extended treatment
- Psychiatric hospitalization or outpatient care
You’ll still need documentation from a healthcare provider, but you are absolutely entitled to take time for serious mental health needs. Employers don’t get to decide which conditions count; they must follow the law. If you’re being questioned or dismissed about your diagnosis, a Los Angeles medical leave attorney can step in.
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What to Do if You’re Being Targeted
If your job changed after requesting or returning from medical leave, you may be facing retaliation. You don’t need proof of intent—you need proof of timing, behavior shifts, and unequal treatment.
Start documenting everything, such as:
- Saving emails, texts, and written warnings
- Recording schedule changes, pay cuts, or role shifts
- Writing down conversations and meetings with HR
Then, talk to a Los Angeles medical leave lawyer. We’ll help you figure out what’s normal, what’s questionable, and what’s illegal.
How a Los Angeles Medical Leave Attorney Can Help
We’re not here to shuffle paperwork. We’re here to solve a problem that’s threatening your health, income, and stability. When your employer puts your well-being at risk, we step in with clarity and action.
Our team explains which laws protect you, helps you submit the right certifications, and pushes back when your leave gets denied or your return comes with retaliation. We file with the CRD or EEOC when needed and apply pressure where it counts.
Some clients want their jobs back. Others want compensation and a fresh start. We help you decide what matters most—and then we fight for it.
What You Can Recover in a Los Angeles Medical Leave Claim
If your employer violated your rights, you may be entitled to meaningful financial recovery and other remedies under state or federal law, including:
- Back pay for lost income and benefits
- Emotional distress damages
- Reinstatement or compensation in lieu of reinstatement
- Civil penalties
- Payment of attorney’s fees
You may also qualify for punitive damages if your employer acted with malice, fraud, or blatant disregard for your rights and well-being.
Speak With a Los Angeles Medical Leave Lawyer Today
Some workers get fired during cancer treatment. Others return from surgery or mental health care only to find their job changed or even gone. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Omega Law Group is family-run and brings decades of combined experience to your case. We treat your legal matter like it matters because we know it does. Our team listens, digs deep, and shows your employer exactly where they crossed the line.
Call Omega Law Group today to speak with a Los Angeles medical leave attorney. You took care of yourself—now let us take care of the fight. Reach out today.
