FMLA & CFRA Retaliation Lawyer

Taking Medical Leave is Your Legal Right. Being Punished for It is Illegal.

California’s Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the federal FMLA protect your right to take time off for serious health conditions or family needs. If your employer has threatened you, demoted you, or fired you for using your protected leave, we are here to fight for your job and your back pay.

Your Health and Family Come First. The Law Agrees.

No one should have to choose between their health or their family and their paycheck. When you invoke your right to FMLA or CFRA leave, the law mandates that your employer holds your position open and protects your status. Instead, many employers treat these leaves as an "inconvenience," using them as a reason to mark you for layoffs, demote you, or "restructure" your position while you're away. If your employer has retaliated against you for exercising your right to leave, it’s time to level the playing field.

Illegal Termination

Being fired while on protected leave, or immediately upon returning to work, under the guise of "performance issues."

Failure to Reinstate

Returning to work only to be told your old position no longer exists or that you’ve been moved to a lower-paying role.

Denied Leave Requests

If your employer denies a leave request that you are legally entitled to take under CFRA or FMLA regulations.

Hostile Communication

Management calling, texting, or emailing you to demand work updates while you are supposed to be on protected medical or family leave.

Unfair Disciplinary "Points"

Counting your protected medical absences against a company attendance policy or using them to justify termination.

Interference with Leave

Making it deliberately difficult for you to apply for leave, requesting unnecessary "extra" documentation, or delaying the approval process to intimidate you.

"We Stop the 'Convenience' Excuse."

Employers will often claim they fired a worker for "poor performance" or "lack of availability" during leave. We look at the timeline. If the performance complaints only started when you requested time off to care for yourself or a loved one, we have the evidence we need to prove retaliation. We hold companies accountable for every discriminatory decision they made.

“Your right to take protected leave is a pillar of California law. We don't let employers treat your health or family needs as a breach of your employment contract.” — Avi Gholian, Founding Attorney

No Upfront Fees

We work on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover your lost wages and compensation.

California Law Expertise

We are experts in CFRA and FMLA requirements, which provide some of the nation’s most stringent protections for workers.

Strategic Pressure

We force your employer to prove their actions were truly performance-based—a hurdle most retaliatory employers cannot clear.

Our Process is Simple & Transparent

You do not need to figure this out alone. We keep the process clear, explain what matters, and help you understand what comes next.

Start with a conversation

No high-pressure sales. Just an honest talk about your situation and how we can help.

01

Start With a Conversation

We evaluate your leave status, your communications with your employer, and the timing of your termination or demotion.

02

Review the Records

We gather your doctor’s certifications, leave approval notices, and all evidence of your employer’s negative actions.

03

Build the Claim

We quantify the financial harm caused by the employer’s illegal actions, including all lost pay and benefits.

04

Push for Recovery

We represent your interests and aggressively pursue the employer for full accountability and compensation.

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Ready to Speak Up?

Your rights to medical and family leave are non-negotiable. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We fight on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win.

Common Questions About Leave Retaliation

What is the difference between CFRA and FMLA?

CFRA (California) and FMLA (Federal) often overlap, but CFRA is generally broader. California workers are often entitled to more protections under state law, including leave for a wider variety of family members and longer periods of coverage.

No. Intermittent leave is also a protected activity. If you are taking leave as prescribed by your doctor and are fired for those absences, that is illegal retaliation.
While written requests are best, the law requires employers to provide leave if they have “sufficient information” to know you need it. If you told your boss you needed medical time off, they were put on notice.
If the new position is not “comparable” in terms of pay, duties, and benefits, then yes, this is a failure to reinstate you properly and is considered an adverse employment action.
Your employer is entitled to medical certification from a healthcare provider confirming the need for leave, but they are generally not entitled to your full medical history or specific diagnosis.
That is not a legal excuse. The employer is legally obligated to hold your position open. “Needing” a worker in that role is not a valid reason to violate your right to reinstatement.
You may be entitled to back pay (for the time you were unemployed), front pay (for future loss), emotional distress damages, and sometimes punitive damages if the company acted with malice.