Approved for leave, then fired for taking it: worker sues Disney

The timeline, as laid out in the complaint, begins in May 2024. That month, the worker submitted paperwork requesting medical leave for gender-affirming surgery – five months ahead of the scheduled procedure. The complaint alleges the company did not notify her of her FMLA rights until October 2024, well past the five-day window the statute requires.

She was approved for short-term disability through February 9, 2025, and underwent two surgical procedures during that period, the filing states. She returned to work on that date.

Then came the second health issue.

In May 2025, the complaint states, the worker experienced a flare-up of anemia and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. She requested intermittent FMLA leave and a reasonable accommodation of occasional leave for those conditions. The company approved the intermittent leave on May 31, 2025, according to the filing.

Within weeks, the situation shifted. The complaint alleges that by mid-June 2025, the worker noticed she was accumulating attendance “points” – the company’s demerit system for missed shifts – despite holding approved intermittent FMLA leave. She contacted HR to ask why.