{"id":357790,"date":"2020-03-27T14:27:39","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T19:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/losing-a-job\/can-my-boss-force-me-to-take-unpaid-time-off-work.html"},"modified":"2024-02-27T10:37:20","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:37:20","slug":"can-my-boss-force-me-to-take-unpaid-time-off-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/losing-a-job\/can-my-boss-force-me-to-take-unpaid-time-off-work.html","title":{"rendered":"Can My Boss Force Me To Take Unpaid Time Off Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can My Boss Force Me To Take Unpaid Time Off Work?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Under some circumstances, your employer can order employees to take unpaid time off. The type of unpaid leave depends on a company’s employee leave policy and state laws about unpaid and paid leave.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

In general, if you are an at-will employee<\/a>, your employer can require anything you agreed to in your employment agreement. Depending on the labor laws in your state and the reason for the unpaid time off, employees may be able to collect unemployment benefits while not working.<\/p>\n

This article reviews some reasons an employer can require workers to take unpaid leave and what workers should do when forced out of work. You can also ask an employment lawyer<\/a> any other questions you have about vacation time, leaves, and furloughs.<\/p>\n

Forced Time Off<\/h2>\n

Employers and employees may negotiate for voluntary unpaid time off. Federal law requires employers with over 50 employees to give eligible workers unpaid time off. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives workers up to 12 unpaid weeks per year to care for family members and themselves.<\/p>\n

Whether an employer may require employees to take involuntary unpaid time off depends on state leave laws and the contract or collective bargaining agreement. These techniques should be part of company policy and included in the employee handbook. These involuntary leaves go by different names:<\/p>\n