mlw1027
03-26-2010, 02:57 PM
I WORK FOR A BI-STATE AGENCY WITH OVER 8000 EMPYOYEES. I APPLIED FOR FAMILY LEAVE TO HELP CARE FOR MY FATHER-IN-LAW. I WAS DENIED BASED ON THE FACT THAT FATHER-IN-LAW IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR GUIDELINES. I AM A UNIONIZED EMPLOYEE AND WAS TOLD ONLY SPOUSE, CHILDREN OR PARENTS APPLY TO ME AND ALL OTHER EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS APPLY TO MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES ONLY. I READ UP ON THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT AN EMPLOYER BEING ABLE TO GIVE DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR THE FAMILY LEAVE ACT TO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES. CAN AN EMPLOYER OF THIS SIZE PICK AND CHOOSE LIKE THIS? I DID MENTION TO HR THAT 2 FELLOW CO-WORKERS WERE GRANTED LEAVE FOR A SICK AUNT, AND WAS TOLD THAT HAD TO BE AN OVERSIGHT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE. I HAVE OVER 700+ HOURS OF SICK TIME AVAILABLE AND WILL GO OUT SICK AS A LAST RESORT. THANK YOU.