The National Security Law Firm’s Master Resource Hub

The Federal Attendance System Is Broken — And It Puts Federal Employees at Risk

Attendance problems are one of the top reasons federal careers are destroyed. And not because employees are unreliable — but because agencies routinely violate the law.

Every day, federal employees are:

  • Marked AWOL for legitimate medical absences

  • Denied LWOP without any legal basis

  • Accused of sick leave abuse for chronic conditions

  • Forced into FMLA retaliation after childbirth or caregiving

  • Targeted with attendance-based discipline

  • Penalized for disability-related attendance issues

  • Harassed for taking prenatal care, mental health leave, or emergencies

Most of these actions are illegal.
And most federal employees have no idea the law protects them.

That is why the National Security Law Firm created this Attendance Super-Hub — the most comprehensive, legally accurate, and battle-tested federal attendance resource available anywhere.

From AWOL and LWOP to sick leave, FMLA, and leave as a reasonable accommodation, this page gives you total control over your attendance rights.

If your attendance is being used against you, you are not alone — and you are not powerless.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.

The Six Pillars of Federal Attendance Law

Each sub-hub below links to 5–10 of the most detailed guides in the nation.

These six categories build the entire legal landscape of federal attendance rights. Master these, and you master your defense.

1. AWOL Hub: The Most Abused Charge in Federal Employment

Absent Without Leave (AWOL) is the weapon federal agencies use when they want to punish you quickly. It’s fast. It’s easy. And it’s often completely illegal.

Supervisors assign AWOL when:

  • You did request leave

  • You provided medical documentation

  • You were too sick to notify anyone

  • FMLA applied

  • LWOP should have been approved

  • Your absence was disability-related

  • HR simply didn’t process your request

Our Federal AWOL Lawyers reverse AWOL charges every day.

The AWOL Hub includes:

If AWOL is on your record, your career is in danger — but it is fixable.

2. LWOP Hub: When Agencies Illegally Deny Leave

Leave Without Pay (LWOP) should protect federal employees who have:

  • Medical emergencies

  • Pregnancy-related needs

  • Family-care obligations

  • Disability-related flare-ups

  • FMLA-covered situations

  • Military orders

But many agencies deny LWOP without cause — then punish employees with AWOL, discipline, or retaliation.

Our Federal LWOP Lawyers force agencies to approve LWOP, reverse denials, and stop retaliatory action.

The LWOP Hub includes:

If your LWOP was denied, you likely have a strong case.

3. Sick Leave Hub: Protecting Your Medical Leave Rights

Federal sick leave rules are strict — but agencies break them constantly.

Supervisors:

  • Deny valid sick leave

  • Demand illegal medical documentation

  • Issue sick leave abuse letters

  • Retaliate for chronic illness

  • Penalize pregnancy-related sick leave

  • Use sick leave in performance ratings

Our Federal Sick Leave Lawyers stop these violations and restore your leave rights.

The Sick Leave Hub includes:

If your supervisor questioned your medical needs, that is a legal red flag.

4. FMLA Hub: Stopping FMLA Abuse and Retaliation

Federal employees have some of the strongest FMLA rights in the country — but agencies routinely:

  • Deny FMLA

  • Miscalculate eligibility

  • Retaliate after FMLA use

  • Misclassify FMLA absences as AWOL

  • Penalize employees for intermittent FMLA

  • Demand improper documentation

Our Federal FMLA Lawyers fight interference and retaliation aggressively.

The FMLA Hub includes:

  • Federal FMLA Lawyers: Complete Guide

  • Intermittent FMLA for Federal Employees

  • FMLA Retaliation in Federal Employment

  • FMLA vs Sick Leave vs LWOP

  • Denied FMLA: What Federal Employees Must Know

If you took FMLA and were punished for it, that is illegal.

5. Attendance Discipline Hub: When Agencies Turn Absences Into Misconduct

Agencies use attendance to justify:

  • PIPs

  • Suspensions

  • Demotions

  • Removals

  • Negative performance reviews

  • Denials of telework

  • Denials of promotions

But attendance-based discipline is often a cover for retaliation or disability discrimination.

The Attendance Discipline Hub includes:

  • Can I Be Fired for Attendance as a Federal Employee?

  • Excessive Absence Charges at MSPB

  • Performance Ratings Based on Attendance

  • Attendance Harassment in the Federal Workplace

  • Medical Inability to Perform vs Attendance Discipline

If the agency is “building a case” against you based on attendance, call us immediately.

6. Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation Hub: Protecting Disabled Federal Employees

Leave is one of the most powerful accommodations available under the Rehabilitation Act — but agencies hate granting it.

We routinely see violations involving:

  • Chronic illness

  • PTSD or mental health needs

  • Autoimmune flare-ups

  • Migraines

  • ADHD

  • Cancer treatment

  • Pregnancy complications

Our Federal Disability Accommodation Lawyers force agencies to honor leave as a reasonable accommodation.

This hub includes:

  • Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation: Complete Guide

  • Chronic Illness Attendance Rights

  • RA Leave vs FMLA vs Sick Leave

  • Disability Attendance Protections

  • How to Request Leave as an Accommodation

If your attendance issues relate to disability, you are protected by federal law.

Why Federal Employees Nationwide Choose NSLF for Attendance Cases

Federal attendance law is a battlefield — and you need a team built for combat.
NSLF is that team.

We Are Former Federal Insiders

Our attorneys have served inside the federal government as:

  • Agency attorneys

  • JAG officers

  • Federal advisors

  • Senior litigators

We understand federal leave systems better than anyone.

We Know Every Trick Agencies Use

We dismantle:

  • AWOL misuse

  • LWOP denials

  • Sick leave retaliation

  • FMLA interference

  • Disability-based attendance discipline

  • Leave restriction abuse

  • Hostile supervisor attendance targeting

We have seen every tactic — and we know how to defeat them.

We Win in Every Federal Forum

We routinely succeed before:

  • MSPB

  • EEOC

  • OSC

  • Agency grievance systems

  • Security clearance adjudicators

Attendance-based removals, AWOL suspensions, and leave-based retaliation cases are our specialty.

Nationwide Representation

No matter your agency — DoD, DHS, VA, TSA, DOJ, SSA, USPS, or others — we represent federal employees nationwide.

4.9-Star Reviews

See why thousands trust us through our client reviews.

Flexible Financing

We offer payment options through Pay Later by Affirm.

Your Federal Career Is Worth Protecting

Attendance violations are fixable.
AWOL is reversible.
Sick leave can be restored.
LWOP can be approved retroactively.
FMLA can be enforced.
Discipline can be overturned.
Your record can be cleaned.
Your job and benefits can be saved.

Do not let one supervisor — or one misunderstanding — ruin everything you’ve built.

Ready to Fight Back?

If you are dealing with:

  • AWOL

  • LWOP denial

  • Sick leave retaliation

  • FMLA interference

  • Attendance-based discipline

  • Disability attendance problems

  • Pregnancy attendance issues

  • Hostile leave micromanagement

We are ready to defend you.

Book a Free Consultation

The right legal team can change everything.
Let us fight for your job, your benefits, and your future.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.