Retaliation for disability leave

I returned from short term disability leave that required about 10 weeks leave 2 days ago. I was pulled aside from my manager today and told that I am not being considered for a position change that was discussed prior to my leave because “you had just called out sick and then went on fmla and it looks bad”. In addition, I was told coworkers were monitoring my social media and reporting things to management and I posted a family picture at the beach and they said I “didn’t look sick enough” to be off work. It also sounded like in those conversations my personal medical information was being offered to these co workers when they asked about my FMLA absence. I was also told I need to “prove myself” because of being gone on fmla and “rebuild trust with the team”. For reference I was in the hospital twice, and have a neurological condition that did not present as “looking sick” on the outside but did not allow me to do my job requirements hence the fmla and short term disability. It appears everybody was gossiping while I was gone as nobody will talk to me now at work and everybody seems mad, I can obviously tell people have been spreading rumors behind my back while I was gone and also I am concerned about being fired for having taken fmla or being demoted from my current position. What can I do? I am in a “right to work” state. I did file a complaint with the ethics advisory people from my work but I have not gone to HR as I’ve been advised against it previously and seen other people get fired for going to HR. I did submit the treatment to the disability company to see if they have any resources and last night I submitted with the state labor board a complaint. But I am super nervous as to what to say when I am called into the meeting.

Posted Aug 10, 2025, 7:27 PM UTC

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