Legal Question in Employment Law in Massachusetts

Family Leave Act

I have a friend who works in a hospital that is going out on maternity leave. She went and talked to her boss and my friend requested that when she returned she would like to cut her hours from 40 to 20. The boss told her that they would not be able to to do this for her, thus leaving her without a job. The department she works in has other part-time positions. Is this legal?


Asked on 2/08/05, 7:28 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Barbara C. Johnson Law Office of Barbara C. Johnson

Re: Family Leave Act

Here is the Mass. law as it is currently.

General Laws c. 149, � 105D, as inserted by St.1972, c. 790,� 1, which governs return to work following maternity leave, provides that upon return, a woman "shall be restored to her previous, or a similar, position with the same status, pay, length of service credit and seniority ..." (emphasis added).

There does not appear to be a Mass. case requiring the employer to allow returning only to a part-time position.

A employment-law atty might see your friend's case as an opportunity to make new law.

Depends on the reasons your friend gives for wanting fewer hours. Clearly one reason is a new baby in the house. I think, though, that it has to be MORE than that, given that when the legislature wrote the Maternity Leave Act, they knew there would be a new baby in the house.

An employer has the right to make bonafide business decisions.

Let me know and I'll put you in contact with some good MELA attys. MELA= Mass. Employment Lawyers Association. I used to do lots of employment law, but got out of that end of the law business a number of years ago, so a current MELA atty would be best to answer your question.

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Answered on 2/08/05, 9:41 pm


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