Yes it can.
In the U.S. there is a law that is called the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If your employer did not follow the law in your instance of family 'emergency' you could have action taken against them.
Can you receive unemployment benefit after your fmla runs out
I was injured on the job but did not miss work. Must I file for FMLA?
Employers are required to continue group health insurance coverage for an employee on FMLA leave under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. For example, if family member coverage is provided to an employee, family member coverage must be maintained during the employee’s FMLA leave.
There is no "committee." The FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) is a public law.
FMLA is federal law and overrules Illinois standard law.
Your employer is not required to pay you for fmla, but is required to hold your position.
You have to be with an employer for 12 months and worked for 12 months or at least 1,250 hours to qualify for FMLA. You also have to have a qualifying reason to claim FMLA.
No one "files for" FMLA with some agency - it is a unilateral grant from the employer. Once the employer has enough info to know whether the employee qualifies or does not qualify for FMLA, the employer MUST issue a letter announcing whether it it granting or denying FMLA. EMployees need not request FMLA to get it, but must comply with employer demands for medical certification.
FMLA runs out after 12 weeks. What happens to you after that is between you and your employer.
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FMLA runs concurrent with the first missed day of work due to the on-the-job injury. If you meet the FMLA requirements, your job must be held for at least twelve weeks.