Sysco worker alleges company punished his approved paternity leave

After that, according to the complaint, the worker took intermittent paternity leave throughout 2025 to bond with his newborn – in February, April, and from June through November – all approved through Sysco’s third-party leave administrator, The Hartford.

But instead of honoring that approved leave, the filing alleges, Sysco treated each paternity-leave absence as an attendance infraction. The company issued the worker a series of disciplinary notices and suspensions throughout 2025 for absences that were, on paper, already approved.

Then came October.

The complaint states the worker was hospitalized on or about October 22, 2025, with pneumonia and asthma-related breathing difficulties. He also has asthma and hypertension, according to the filing. He was discharged the next day and cleared to return to work on October 26. His fiancee called Sysco’s absence hotline on both days to report the hospitalization.

After returning, the worker opened a medical-leave claim with The Hartford on or about November 4, 2025, told Sysco he had done so, and submitted his doctor’s medical-certification paperwork on or about November 9, the complaint alleges. When he needed more time off from November 17 through 19 for follow-up treatment and severe medication side effects, he provided a physician’s note.