When life throws you a health crisis, your job shouldn’t be the thing that breaks you. Whether you're recovering from surgery, managing a long-term illness, or navigating a newly diagnosed disability, the last thing you need is added stress about how much time you’re allowed to take off work—and whether your job will still be there when you’re ready to return.
The truth is, disability leave laws can be confusing, and employers don’t always explain your rights clearly. In this guide, we’ll break it all down so you understand exactly how long you can take off work for a disability, what types of leave you may qualify for, and what to do if your employer refuses to cooperate.
You’ll also learn when it’s time to contact an attorney near you to help protect your job, your health, and your income.
💡 For every post in this series, scroll down to “Related Posts.”
Disability leave is time off from work that you take due to a physical or mental condition that prevents you from performing your job duties. The leave may be:
It can be paid or unpaid, and it may fall under several types of legal protection, including:
Each has different rules about how much time you can take, whether you get paid, and what job protections you have.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to: