Can an employer deny unpaid time off?
Generally, yes. Unpaid time off is not something that's a protected category in California unless the reason for the unpaid time off is a protected leave. For example, FMLA or CFRA, those are leaves that are protected based off of serious medical conditions.
Pregnancy leave is leave because of pregnancy. There are certain other leaves of absences that are also protected and those leaves the employer cannot deny the time off. But everything else they can deny time off if it doesn't fit their employment schedule.
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