Can my employer deny me time off to take care of medical or personal business?

Question

Can my employer deny me time off to take care of medical or personal business?

Anonymous Jul 24, 2010 10 views 1 answers

I work for a major communication company that does not have sick days. We are only able to do these things without being charged with an absence by using vacation time (if day is open) or FMLA (wihich everybody does not qualify for). This is being done until June of 2012 becaise management is not pleased with our attendance. One coworker racked up 3 chargeable absence in 3 days because she was late due to a flat tire, plane grounded due to weather & getting tire fixed. Prior to last year, she would have been offered excused time, vacation time or trade time. The the union steward in the office stated that they would not be artibrating any cases for people fired for attendance. She stated it was because they keep losing them, so they are on side with company. Are these things legal?

Alan Brinkmeier · Answer 1 · 2026-06-15T10:32:32+00:00

You have a union so whatever has been collectively bargained controls the dispute. It would appear, from what you posted, that the union grevience process has been used on this exact dispute before and the rulings have been the company is in the right to enforce the attendance requirements from the collective bargaining agreement. So, until the new agreement is negotiated to include sick days, the company can and will still enforce the current attendance rules meaning you must use weekends and days off to schedule doctor visits and personal business. Good luck.

Can my employer deny me time off to take care of medical or personal business?

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