Fired Woman Who Cared For Dying Dad Awarded $45K

A Bergen County pediatric medical group will pay a former employee $45,000 to settle allegations it wrongfully terminated her for taking time off to be with her dying father.

Former billing coordinator Allison Blair was fired from her job at Tenafly Pediatrics in March 2014 after she took nine days off to help care for her terminally father. Before leaving, Blair’s stepmother asked her to come to New York to help care of her father.

Blair had notified her supervisors by telephone of her plans and told them she intended to claim the time under the Family Leave Act.

Blair’s father was diagnosed with a terminal illness in February 2014. She informed her supervisors of her father’s condition and told them she anticipated needed to take family leave “at some point” to be with him, Hoffman said.

Blair will be paid two installments of $22,500.

“This settlement represents a fair and just resolution -- not only because of its financial terms, but because of the provisions it contains that will promote greater awareness of, and compliance with, our state’s family leave laws,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman.

Tenafly Pediatrics operates six offices in North Jersey, including Fort Lee, Paramus, Oakland, and Tenafly. They claimed that Blair failed to follow proper procedures and protocols.

Blair was informed of her termination due to her “unexcused” absence via a letter when she returned.

Blair was told she failed to submit a state FL-1 form, which is filed so an employee can receive insurance benefits from the state Department of Labor. The form is not required by law to be completed before family leave can begin. Verbal notification of an impending absence is sufficient. Blair did complete the form, the state attorney general’s office said.

Tenafly Pediatrics admitted to “no wrongdoing or liability” under the settlement. The company argued that Blair also used her normal paid leave time when she announced she was taking off. Tenafly said Blair did not keep in touch with her supervisors while away, Hoffman said.