Dennis DiLosa, a former Punch Bowl Social Sacramento manager, sued the establishment for firing him after he requested family leave. The manager who worked with the company, which owns a restaurant, multiple bars, and entertainment facilities such as bowling, karaoke, and arcade games, is seeking damages for unlawful dismissal. In a lawsuit filed at the Sacramento County Superior Court, Mr. DiLosa claimed he asked for leave to attend to his wife, who was scheduled to give birth in October 2023. Mr. DiLosa, a Punch Bowl employee from June 2022 to September 2023, claimed his dismissal was retaliatory, as he had discussed his absence with Punch Bowl’s former regional director of operations, who agreed to his leave request.
However, James Wahl, the current regional director of operations, was uncooperative regarding Mr. DiLosa’s request for family leave. After Dennis DiLosa communicated with the company’s HR department, informing them of his intention to go on paternity and paid family leave in line with the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), he was unceremoniously dismissed four days later. CFRA and its federal law, the Family Medical Leave Act, permit qualified employees to go on leave for up to 12 weeks unpaid time off to attend to family issues such as childbirth and newborn baby bonding. However, some bars and restaurants offer their employees paid paternity leave. Punch Bowl Social declined to respond to questions, and DiLosa’s attorney also didn’t answer any additional questions about the lawsuit.
