Farmwork is a very demanding job, and a lot of workers are denied time off when they need it. Some workers have a legal right to take time off work (without pay) for their own or close family member's serious health problems if all of the following apply:

• You have been at your jobs for at least a year, 
• You have 50 or more coworkers, and
• You have worked a total of 1,250 hours in the past year (that’s at least 24 hours per week if you work year-round).

How “serious” does the health problem have to be? 

What counts as a serious health problem depends on the circumstances. A health problem may be serious enough to qualify you for time off from work if you or your family member:

• have to stay overnight in a hospital because of it.
• can’t work for at least three days and have at least one doctor’s appointment plus follow-up treatment during those three days off.
• have to stay home from work and get medical treatment at least twice per year due to a chronic condition.
• are pregnant and need to take time off for doctor’s appointments or because you feel sick or need bed rest.
• need to bond with a newborn child, a newly adopted child, or a new foster child.