Q: Is it legal for my job to fire me for taking off to care of my newborn while my unwed partner is sick in the hospital?
A: Whether you are protected under the law will depend on the size of your employer and how long you were with the employer. The Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") offers unpaid leave if you need to care for a child as you described above, but it only applies if (1) your employer employs at least 50 people within a 75-mile radius, and (2) you have worked full time for at least a year. If your employer employs more than 50 but less than 500 employees, you may also be eligible for additional protection under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
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