LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has restored more than $14,000 in back wages to a Little Rock hospital employee.
Labor officials said Methodist Family Health violated the Family Medical Leave Act when it terminated an employee while they were out on family medical leave. Officials continued that the worker had qualified for 12 weeks of protected leave, but their employment ended after nine weeks.
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Agency officials said the investigation recovered $14,082 in back wages.
The employee was off work for a child’s birth coupled with what officials called “a serious medical condition.” They added that the hospital erroneously limited the worker’s amount of protected leave based upon the combined use of leave between the worker and the worker’s spouse, who the facility also employed.
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Department of Labor Wage and Hour District Director in Little Rock Hanz Grünauer spoke about the strength of the Family Medical Leave Act.