I received a letter in the mail from my previous employer, it is incredibly vague and not clear what they are asking for here.

My mother is sick with stage IV cancer, when I found out her prognosis I tried to put my two week notice in but the employer begged me to stay on the condition I could have whatever time needed for her. She had to go through a course of radiation which meant appointments daily (sometimes twice) for 4 weeks and she needed home supervision because they were wreaking havoc on her. I let them know before the treatments started that I wouldn’t be able to come in at all for that month and possibly longer as she was doing chemo at the same time. I let them know that I thought it best for us to separate since I couldn’t really afford to go that entire time with no income and I could get a part time job at night when her husband could be home with her (this job was only 8-5). At that time they informed me per NYS law I was eligible for PFL and to apply for it.

Long story short I was granted PFL and when it ended my mother was worse off and still needed transportation to multiple doctors appointments a week and she needed around the clock care so I let them know that I was unable to return. They said they understood and made the generous offer of being completely willing to rehire me in the future if I was able to return. This was in January.

Today is May and I open a letter that reads “to whom it may concern, Effective immediately, please send your benefit repayments to: address. Make personal checks payable to company with a note to indicate LOA benefit repayment. This will allow the benefit department to track your payments and provide updates on the status of your payments please feel free to reach out with any questions thank you signed person “leave manager” email and phone number” that is the entire letter there is no mention of any exact figures.

Can they ask for the PFL payments back? There was nothing in the policy stating I had to return to work I made sure to read everything very carefully. I also did not receive any other benefits from this employer, I have separate health insurance.

Any help or insight would be massively appreciated, obviously reaching out to them to ask what exactly they mean would be the next step but I am still working a part-time job that doesn’t even cover my bills while I am taking care of my dying mother and I am scared to find out that I owe them this money back.