Can my employer force me to take an extended leave of absense?

Question

I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and told my employer that I would be leaving for an unpaid leave of absence this week due to my pregnancy. I do not qualify for FMLA because I have only worked for the company for 11 months. I emailed my boss saying i forgot to clock out a day last week, and he replyied if i missed another clock out he would be "forced to give me an extended leave of absence". Can he make me leave early? what exactly does this mean?

Answer 1

ask him /her what it means.........

i have worked with a lot of people who would have meant that as a joke and not in a threatening way at all.

to some employers making mistakes in proper use of the time system is a big issue and corrections seem to cause them a lot of extra work. i personally don't see it as a big issue but.............

i am not your employer and i don't know if you have a problem clocking in and out properly, tardiness or absenteeism or what your job performance is like.

so, ask your employer what was meant by the comment don't let another day go by without resolving the issue, you will have enough to worry about soon enough.

since this is an unpaid leave not covered by law(FMLA) it is the employers policy that takes precedence. so,  yes they can have you take a longer leave if they feel it is necessary or if your work is being effected or they can ask for a doctors statement that you are fit to work without restrictions. in any case unless you have employment issues  related to how you clock in and out(or fail to) i don't think you really have any thing to be worried about.

Answer 2

We give employees who can't properly clock in and out three days off without pay.

Funny, three days without pay and they can usually remember to use the time clock properly.

Your employer can treat you as he treats other employees who do the same infraction.  

Answer 3

First of all, why did you wait until this week to ask for a leave of absence?  This is hardly something that just came up suddenly.

If you violate rules, like the rules on clocking out, then they can discipline you including firing you.  Doesn't sound like the failure to clock out has anything to do with your pregnancy.