My friend has a mysterious leg injury, was on medical leave for 3 weeks, what are

[Frakin BSG Fan]

his options for his job? My friend was suffering from mysterious leg pain. After 3 MRIs the cause of leg pain is still inconclusive (might be an infection in the muscles). They don't know how long it will take to find out the cause. The doctors wrote a note excusing him from work until May 5th.

Before his 3 week unpaid medical leave, the boss approved a one week vacation for my friend from April 30-May6. He has only been working at the company for 10 months. The HR dept told him that he doesn't not get medical leave of 12 weeks because he hasn't worked there for at least one year.

Now, he is now told that the HR dept will "reasses his employment" on April 25th...right before his aprroved vacation.

I told him that he should file for SDI and stay with the company. If the company fires him on April 25th, then he can file for unemployment.

Any other suggestions for my friends situation? If the company keeps him, can they make him work even though the doctor said that he can't?
The problem is that my friend's leg pain prevents him from driving to his job. He is restricted to several locations...in an area near the job of a carpool buddy or anywhere near a bus/train stop.

My friend also suffered from 2 bulging discs in his back. The doctors thought that the leg pain was caused by pinched nerves, however the MRIs show that is not the case. Both legs are the same size. The pain is mostly within the calves and thigh muscles above the knees. He can't really walk and the doctors have sent him to rehab to do some stretching and strength exercises. My friend is not diabetic...he is young (24 yrs old)...disease free and is in fairly good shape. He was working out about 3-4 times a week before this injury. This leg pain came suddenly right after his back injury. The doctors have also already ruled out compartment syndrome.

If you can't get unemployement if you get fired or quit, how does one qualify in the first place then?