A Cold Reception After Medical Leave

Q One week after my return from a medical leave of absence from work, my boss cleaned out my locker and took my name off the employee phone list.

Do I return to work or have I been terminated? Do I contact an attorney?

--J.K., Corona

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A You need to ask your boss if you still have a job.

If the company has 50 or more employees and you worked there for at least one year, your leave of absence may have been covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act. If so, you cannot be discriminated against for having taken the leave.

You also may not be discriminated against for taking workers’ compensation leave or a leave (of up to four months) because of a disability due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.

You should contact an attorney if you believe your employment was terminated because you took protected leave.

--Deborah C. Saxe

Management attorney

Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe