Employees may file a complaint against an employer for alleged violations of the FLA when they believe their rights to leave benefits have been denied. Upon receipt of a bona fide complaint, L&I is obligated to investigate the complaint. If, after investigation, L&I finds that an employer may have violated the FLA, L&I will issue a citation. An employer can appeal the citation and request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). An employer who disagrees with the ALJ can ask the L&I Director to reverse the decision. If the Director does not agree, an employer can file an appeal in superior court. The party who wins on appeal can seek reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs.
