"The key takeaway from [several recent] cases is that employees do not receive a 'free pass' to violate policies simply because they have requested, are on, or have taken FMLA leave. Rather, employers have a right to expect all employees to comply with established policies, even when the FMLA is implicated in some way with respect to the policy violation at issue. That said, employers should keep in mind [certain] principles when evaluating whether to take action against an FMLA-protected employee who has violated an employment policy[.]"  MORE >>