10/04/2010
Employees are protected against retaliation for taking FMLA leave. Disciplining an employee who has just returned from such leave is risky, especially if you can’t point to anything truly objective as the reason. Attributing a “poor attitude” to returning employees is a bad idea unless you can provide specific examples of actual work deficiencies.
10/04/2010
When an employee tries to challenge his employer’s decision to discharge him based on some form of discrimination, he has to show that the reasons for the firing weren’t legitimate. It’s not good enough to knock down just one of the reasons. He has to show all of them were suspect. That’s why it’s important to document in your files each legitimate discharge reason—at the time you make the decision.