Ask the Lawyer received the following paraphrased question from a reader on a legal matter that may be of interest to the entire audience. Q: Good evening, I am an SSA employee. I have been on medical leave and exhausted all my annual leave and sick time. My manager has informed me they have no choice but to charge me absent without leave (AWOL). I will submit medical documentation to continue my leave without pay (LWOP), but my question is: Should I go to work on even without my doctors authorization?  I have a pending immediate disability retirement claim at the reconsideration level and a SSA…