You actually have a lot of rights in California. You are entitled, and there’s no eligibility requirements, to about 17.5 weeks; it’s four months, it depends on what your work schedule is, of leave. And you don’t have to have a certain amount of time working for the employer like other leaves, like Family Medical Leave, or the California equivalent, which is the California Family Rights Act. You could be entitled to those leaves as well, which are an additional three months, and that could be if your employer has 50 or more employees.

Other rights that you have is your employer cannot transfer you unless you’ve asked for it and you need it. They cannot refuse to reinstate you, and if they pay for health benefits when other leaves were taken they have to pay for it for you. And if other leaves are paid leaves they have to give the same to you.