Steffans Legal Represents Former Lowell Employee in Massachusetts PFML Claim
In February of 2025, Steffans Legal agreed to represent a former employee of a not-for-profit based in Lowell, Massachusetts in claims arising under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (“MA PFML”). In this case, our client was told she had to continue working for a certain period of time in order to have her leave approved.
In this case, our client told her employer that she planned to take leave under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act for a medical emergency. Her doctor’s note said the leave should start October 21, 2024, a start date that was eventually approved by the plan administrator as the beginning of her MA PFML leave. Her employer seemed to ignore that and instead told the employee she had to continue to work for an indefinite period of time in order to have the leave approved. Our client was afraid she’d be terminated if she didn’t comply, so she did her best to keep working. Unfortunately, the health issues made it impossible for her to work during the period and she began to miss work. Ultimately, the employer terminated her for absences from work during her MA PFML leave period, which is an odd thing to have done as the definition of a “leave period” is that you aren’t expected to work!
Can My Massachusetts Employer Force Me to Work in order to qualify for Leave under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act?
No. The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act entitles you to a certain amount of leave regardless of how long you have worked for your employer. It’s your time. Employers violate the law if they say they will allow you to take the time only if you "work one more week,” which is what happened in this case. In fact, your employer has little-to-no-say in the matter as the approval process involves you and the state (or a third-party plan administrator if your employer has a private plan).
Steffans Legal will file this action in Middlesex County Superior Court if it is not resolved swiftly.