The town of Kingston didn’t violate the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or state disability discrimination laws when it decided not to reappoint an employee on FMLA leave to her position after her predetermined term expired, the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Massachusetts employers) recently ruled, upholding a lower court’s opinion. Here’s what happened.
Facts
Linda Felix served as Kingston’s director of elder affairs for a term set to expire on December 31, 2013. The job was subject to reappointment. Before the end date, she applied for the maximum amount of FMLA leave. The Act guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for, among other things, a serious medical condition rendering the worker unable to perform her job duties.
