What can I do with an employer who wont let me take time off to meet with my lawyer without 2 weeks notice? -

My employer requires that I give two weeks notice when taking time off. I arranged time off to attend a court hearing where I ll be fighting criminal charges. Now my lawyer needs me to show up in court within the next week in order to postpone the trial so she can have more time to prepare. Are there any laws that would require my employer to be more cooperative with giving me time off to defend myself in legal case? I m in California.

no .... employee has no rights in this dept. ask your lawyer

No, you re on your own on this one. All, you can do is hope your employer works with you on the issues you have. If your employer is not being that cooperative that usually means they could care-less about you. They are probably hoping you take the time off on a whim so they can use it against you to let you go..

If you re employer is letting you still have a job while fighting criminal charges they are being cooperative. If it is a written rule in your company s policy handbook then you need to follow it. Or get a new lawyer who will not need to postpone in order to get prepared.

PJ is right. you should instruct your lawyer to apologise to the court for you not being able to be there but he/she should be capable of dealing with this herself, if not you might need a new lawyer as if she can t do this for you I wouldn t fancy your chances at all.

Your lawyer doesn t need you to show up for a postponement. She should be able to do most of her lawyering with out you present.

ask your lawyer