n EVIL HR LADY
DILEMMA OF THE MONTH
CAN I QUIT WHILE ON
MATERNITY LEAVE?
by Suzanne Lucas
ILLUSTRATION: JOHN CHASE
W
hile on maternity leave, an opportunity
for my dream job has come up, and they
want someone immediately. The hiring
manager said he was impressed with my resume and
would hire me. When I told him my situation, he told
me to keep in contact and see what happens. I’ve got
two more months of FMLA before I return to my
current job. Do I have to go back to work and then
give two weeks’ notice, or can I just quit? I know this
might not be ethical, but legally can they do anything
to stop me?
A
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comstocksmag.com | March 2019
FIRST, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW
BABY! That’s exciting and I hope you’re
sleeping at least a little bit. Second,
dream job opportunities are few and
far between so I understand wanting to
jump on it, but remember just because
you think a job will be a dream doesn’t
mean it won’t turn into a nightmare. I
don’t want to be negative, but sometimes
people place all their hopes and dreams
on a position or with a company that
looks great from the outside, and don’t
pay attention to the red flags. So, keep an
eye open for that!
Now, let’s answer your question. You
can quit at any time. Unless you are in
a union or otherwise have a contract,
you’re an at-will employee — which
people usually talk about in terms of fir-
ing but it also protects your right to quit