Cared for sick wife for two years, and nobody told him of his FMLA rights

For two years, Jeffrey Angstadt used his personal, sick and vacation days and worked remotely to balance his work obligations and to care for his sick wife. And during that entire time, nobody told him he was eligible to take FMLA leave.  

According to the DOL, in 2010, Angstadt, a furniture sales executive, told his employer, Staples Contract and Commercial, Inc., that he needed to take leave to care for his critically ill wife. So he juggled this schedule, used vacation time and generally lived his life around the need to care for his sick wife.

But it was a struggle. In January 2012, his supervisors decided Angstadt wasn’t meeting his job responsibilities, and the company fired him. Angstadt found himself without an income and critical health benefits.

At some later point, Angstadt learned of his rights under FMLA, and complained to authorities.

Following an investigation, the DOL sued Staples in June 2013 for violating the FMLA by failing to inform Angstadt of his rights.

Angstadt’s wife died in 2014.

Final bill: $275k

Cut to the ending: As part of a recent settlement agreement, Staples Inc, will  pay Angstadt $137,500 in lost wages and benefits, plus an equal amount in liquidated damages. The agreement was reached in a consent decree approved by a federal court.

As a part of the settlement, the company will also promote an enterprise-wide policy for compliance with the FMLA by providing training for human resources and other managerial personnel with respect to FMLA notice and eligibility requirements; post FMLA enforcement posters in the workplace; and investigate and respond to complaints of potential FMLA violations concerning an employee’s notice of FMLA rights, including correcting violations when discovered.

“When an employee must be away from work to care for a loved one, there are no second chances to get it right,” said DOL Wage and Hour Division Administrator Dr. David Weil. “For more than 20 years, the Family and Medical Leave Act has been a critical safety net for working families. It ensures that no one should have to choose between the job they need and the family they love.”