Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

Guide to FMLA Prohibitions: Safeguarding Employee Rights and Managing Workplace Compliance

2 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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1:04

The video outlines the employer‑side prohibitions under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It explains that employers may not interfere with, deny, or discourage an employee’s right to take qualified FMLA leave. Specific illegal actions include refusing to authorize leave, altering job duties or work hours to prevent eligibility, discriminating or retaliating against employees for taking leave or for participating in complaints, counting FMLA leave against attendance policies, and denying benefits to employees on unpaid FMLA leave when those benefits are provided to other employees on non‑FMLA unpaid leave. The content emphasizes that these prohibitions protect employee rights and guide employers toward compliant workplace practices.

Chapters

Employers are prohibited from interfering with or denying the right of an employee to use qualified FMLA leave. Violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act include refusing to authorize FMLA leave, or discouraging employees from using qualified leave. Employers also can't change someone's job description or hours to avoid their eligibility for FMLA. They're also prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against an employee for using FMLA leave, including using leave and making employment decisions, counting FMLA leave in attendance policies, and failing to provide benefits to an employee on unpaid FMLA leave if they are provided to other employees on non-FMLA unpaid leave. Employers are not allowed to discriminate or retaliate against an employee who has filed a charge, given information, or testified about unlawful FMLA practice at a company.