Press Release

DOL Recovers $14k in Back Wages from Little Rock Hospital for Employee Illegally Fired While on Family Medical Leave

Issued by Wage and Hour Division [WHD], U.S. Department of Labor [DOL]

Nov. 15, 2024

Methodist Family Health violated federal leave protections

Employer:                    Methodist Family Health

Investigation site:   600 Aldersgate Road, Suite 200   

                                          Little Rock, AR 72205

Findings: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Methodist Family Health terminated a worker while out on family medical leave, a violation of the Family Medical Leave Act. The worker had qualified for 12 weeks of protected leave for a serious medical condition and parental leave after their child’s birth, but the employer terminated the worker after nine weeks of leave. The employer erroneously limited the worker’s amount of protected leave based on the combined use of leave between the worker and the worker’s spouse who is also employed by the company.

Back wages recovered:        $14,082 in back wages 

Quote: “The Family Medical Leave Act allows eligible employees to care for themselves or their families without fear of losing their jobs,” said Wage and Hour District Director Hanz Grünauer in Little Rock. “The U.S. Department of Labor will defend worker protections and flexibilities protected by law and pursue all available remedies when those rights are violated.” 

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division and how to file an online complaint. For confidential compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), regardless of where they are from. Download the agency’s new Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices – also available in Spanish – to ensure hours and pay are accurate.

Agency

Wage and Hour Division

Date

November 14, 2024

Release Number

24-2314-DAL

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