Yes. An employee's ability to use FMLA leave during pregnancy or after the birth of a child has not changed.
You can start your maternity leave any day from 11 weeks before your due date. Your maternity leave will start earlier than the date you pick if: your baby comes early, or. you're off work with an illness related to your pregnancy, and this happens in the 4 weeks before the week of your due date.
To take the leave, you must have recently given birth or adopted a child, have a serious health condition, including pregnancy-related health conditions or incapacities, or be taking care of a family member with a serious health condition.
In the United States, an employer cannot refuse parental or maternity leave if the employee is eligible under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Here are some key points regarding parental and maternity leave:
To take the leave, you must have recently given birth or adopted a child, have a serious health condition, including pregnancy-related health conditions or incapacities, or be taking care of a family member with a serious health condition.
PDL is available when an employee is actually disabled. This includes time off needed for prenatal or postnatal care, severe morning sickness, doctor-ordered bed rest, childbirth, recovery from childbirth, loss or end of pregnancy, or any other related medical condition.
Your employer should provide you with a written explanation for the denial. If you believe that your employer has improperly denied your request for FMLA leave, you may want to consider filing a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner's Office or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
These are generally covered as Family Medical Leave (``FMLA'') and maternity is a defined purpose. So no, an employer cannot decline that if properly applied for. Approval isn't in the employer's hands in the case of an FMLA request.