When life demands time away from work—due to a serious medical condition, a family emergency, or the birth of a child—you have legal rights. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave. But many employers in New Jersey unlawfully deny, delay, or retaliate against workers who assert those rights.
At The Lacy Employment Law Firm, we represent employees, not corporations. Founding attorney Andrew Lacy Jr., Esq. brings elite legal experience and a deep passion for worker justice to every FMLA case we take on.
What is FMLA?
The FMLA is a federal law that guarantees eligible employees the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family or medical reasons, including:
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The birth or adoption of a child
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Caring for a seriously ill spouse, child, or parent
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Recovering from your own serious health condition
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Certain obligations related to a family member’s military service
To qualify for FMLA leave, you must:
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Work for a covered employer (generally private employers with 50+ employees, or any public agency)
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Have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months
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Have been employed at the company for at least one year
Your Rights Under FMLA in New Jersey
While FMLA is a federal law, New Jersey workers may also be protected by state-specific leave laws, such as the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), which may offer additional protections and cover different situations.
Our Employment Law page offers further details about how these laws interact.
Under the FMLA and NJFLA, your employer cannot:
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Deny you qualifying leave
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Fail to reinstate you to your same (or equivalent) position after leave
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Retaliate or discipline you for requesting or taking leave
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Terminate you for asserting your FMLA rights
Common FMLA Violations We Handle
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Denying FMLA leave despite eligibility
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Firing or demoting employees after leave
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Retaliation for requesting or taking FMLA leave
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Interfering with or delaying the leave process
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Misclassifying employees to avoid granting leave
If you believe your employer has violated your rights, visit our Retaliation page to learn more about legal recourse.
How Our New Jersey FMLA Lawyers Can Help
At The Lacy Employment Law Firm, we offer skilled guidance and fierce advocacy:
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Evaluate your eligibility under FMLA, NJFLA, and related statutes
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Review your employer’s policies to identify unlawful practices
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Gather and organize documentation to support your case
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File administrative complaints or lawsuits if needed
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Seek reinstatement, back pay, emotional distress compensation, and more
You can also learn about resolving cases through agency processes on our EEOC Conciliation page.
When Should You Contact an FMLA Lawyer?
Get in touch with an attorney as soon as:
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Your FMLA leave is denied or delayed
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You are fired, written up, or demoted after requesting leave
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Your employer discourages you from taking time off
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You return from leave and find your job has changed or disappeared
Act quickly—deadlines apply to both federal and state claims.
How to Protect Yourself
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Request leave in writing, and keep copies of all communications.
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Track key dates, doctor’s notes, HR responses, and any changes in treatment.
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Document retaliation, if it occurs—email exclusions, demotions, write-ups, etc.
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Speak with an employment lawyer to assess your legal options.
Why Trust The Lacy Employment Law Firm?
We fight for working people—not corporations.
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Contingency fees: You don’t pay unless we win your case.
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Remote-first model: We offer seamless communication and modern case management.
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Biglaw experience, personal mission: Attorney Andrew Lacy Jr. built this firm to put people first.
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Clear communication: We ensure you understand your rights and options every step of the way.
Learn more about our values and approach on the About the Firm page.
