RE: Family and Medical Leave Act!!!
If the company meets the criteria for FMLA, then they cannot refuse him FMLA. But FMLA is unpaid time. As Lori said, he probably does not meet the criteria for using his sick time for this purpose. Some companies are very strict about what you can use sick time for. And in the company I used to work for, if you had more than 5 days sick in a row, that automatically triggered a short term disability case, which is not something you want to do.
My DH took a week off work after DD was born and his boss just "gave" him that time, nudge wink style, under the table. Maybe he can work something out with his direct boss without involving HR, who often have their hands tied about what options they can offer.
The fact is that leave for new parents just sucks in this country.
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)