LAS–ELC Senior Staff Attorney Sharon Terman explains Family Medical Leave Laws:
LAS-ELC’s Work and Family Project protects the employment rights of pregnant women, new parents, and workers dealing with family and medical crises. The Project provides free advice, representation, and advocacy to workers, including families of service members and veterans, about their right to receive accommodations on the job and take job-protected and/or paid leave to recover from their own medical conditions or to care for their families.
The tools we use include:
Advice and Information:
LAS-ELC provides free assistance and legal advice to workers through the Work and Family Project Helpline, toll-free in California 800-880-8047 or 415-593-0033 in the Bay Area.
Legal Representation:
The Work and Family Project represents workers whose family and medical leave and accommodation rights have been denied. We provide direct legal services, from pursuing administrative complaints to litigating cases in state and federal court.
Policy Advocacy:
LAS-ELC participates in legislative efforts to expand workers’ access to family and medical leave and accommodations. See LAS-ELC's press release on the introduction of SB 770.
Public Education and Outreach:
LAS-ELC offers workshops and trainings for workers, advocates, and health care providers regarding the employment rights of poor families who are pregnant, new parents, or grappling with family or medical crises. We also provide self-help tools, fact sheets, and other reference materials in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Collaboration:
LAS-ELC collaborates with a range of advocates and communities to identify and strengthen the common interests of persons with disabilities, LGBT people, women, people of color, immigrants, language minorities, labor unions, and working people with caretaking obligations.