STD, NJ

[Red2Robin]

On 7/12/99 I started my employment. On 10/13/99 I was out "sick." 10/14/99 the Er diagnosed pneumonia,sent home with medication. Doctor visit 10/16/99 as no improvement in condition, direct admit to hospital. Released 10/22/99. Received mail from employer for STD 10/20/99. Returned to employer on 10/23/99. HR, NJ location sent fax to MS corporate on 10/26/99. I followed up with phone call to state (NJ) 11/5/99, not received as yet. Phone call to NJ employer (HR)to confirm paperwork was being processed. Told state is extremely slow and not to worry. Returned to work 11/15/99 and receiced e mail notification there is no STD as I do not qualify at this time. Policy states you must be a full time employee for at least 6 months in order to be eligible. In the company employee handbook, under STD, the last bullet reads as follows:
"****** has the discretion to determine all benefits under the STD Plan, to enforce the terms and to resolve all questions regarding the interpretation and application of its terms. Any problem or dispute between an employee and ****** must be dealt with through ******'s Appeal Procedure. Details of this procedure are available from the Human Resources Consultant."

My question(s)are: Why was I misled into believing I was entitled to STD? Human error on the part of HR department? Do I really have any recourse? Should I try and pursue an Appeal and is it worth it?

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[Cal from SF]

Not from NJ, as you can see. But unless you can prove the existence of STD was a material reason you took the job, and/or that their plan was different from standard plans, my guess is you will be out of luck.