Law for Business 10th Edition by James Barnes,Terry Dworkin,Eric Richards

Exercise 12

Caldwell worked for Holland's Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, where she had an excellent record. On Saturday, her three-year-old son awoke with a high fever, pain in his ears, and congestion. Caldwell notified her manager that she would be absent because she had to take her son to the doctor. At the emergency clinic, the son was diagnosed with an acute ear infection and put on a 10-day course of antibiotics and a 2-day decongestant. Caldwell was also informed that he would need surgery to prevent permanent hearing loss. That night Caldwell, a single mother, worked the night shift at another KFC owned by Holland while her elderly mother cared for her son. When Caldwell reported to work on Monday, she was summarily fired. On a follow-up visit the son had to have another course of antibiotics, and two weeks later had surgery. Did the son have a "serious health condition," therefore causing Caldwell's leave to be covered by the FMLA? Explain.