maternity leave

Htle07

How long are you planning to stay out? Ideally I would love to take a year off, but due to the nature of timing, it will be 8 months (starting with Christmas break and taking the remainder of the year off). I teach, and although I am entitle to a year, I don't think the principal would be too happy if I cut into the first half of the following school year too. Plus I would like to start the year off and set expectations for the little ones. I teach K, by the way.

Duckie419

Htle07 said:

How long are you planning to stay out? Ideally I would love to take a year off, but due to the nature of timing, it will be 8 months (starting with Christmas break and taking the remainder of the year off). I teach, and although I am entitle to a year, I don't think the principal would be too happy if I cut into the first half of the following school year too. Plus I would like to start the year off and set expectations for the little ones. I teach K, by the way.

That's great!! I have no idea what in entitled too. I work for my husbands family's company and I'm the only woman who has ever gotten pregnant before. Idk what to expect or what to ask for and they will actually be writing the maternity clause for me. So, perhaps I'll shoot for a year? Who knows haha

Htle07

MissChristineMarie said:

8 months?! Paid? Consider yourself lucky. I am planning on being a SAHM for awhile, but I might nanny at the same time.

MissChristineMarie said:

8 months?! Paid? Consider yourself lucky. I am planning on being a SAHM for awhile, but I might nanny at the same time.

Ha! Wish it was paid! Only 12 weeks paid. But I can take a year off and still have a position at that school.

ZAP12

Probably just the 6 weeks. I am the only income right now. If hubby gets a job for next school year, I would consider taking the rest of the year off.

katykat03

6 weeks. Then I go back to work, but luckily I teach at a preschool with an infant room so baby will be in the same building.

LSauer21

I'm a teacher as well I'll prolly take the 6/8 weeks then all of my sick days. I wish I could take the rest of the year but I hold the benefits and they would be dropped

Meether

I'm probably going to quit my job in the 3rd trimester. With my last company, I got 6 mos off for DD (and 5 weeks off before), all 100% paid. They are a European company, so all benefits (vacation, medical, PTO) were better.. With my new (US) company, they only give 10 weeks off paid, with you working until you deliver. I honestly think the benefits of this company is crappy, so I don't see myself working there for a long time. I like the work I do, but benefits must be great for me to continue. DH is ok with whatever I choose to do.

JCM285

I'm taking the 6 weeks and then sick days. I'm a teacher too! :-)

BankerBSN

12 weeks. I am also tossing around the idea of going back part time. Right now I work so much I barely see DH and I am not sure how that would be with a little one at home.

TravelingCouple

My job only gives 12 weeks according to the FMLA, and even that I'm only paid through STD. I'm not complaining, it's better than nothing, but I probably won't be going back. I may discuss any possible PT options but more than likely I'll take my maternity leave and then leave.

ajlmom

I'm not sure what the policy is at my company and haven't asked yet. I work 32 hr and plan on keeping them as I'm one of the lucky ones who has great family support (dad and FIL retired, mom semi retired and all within 40 minutes). DH is an IT guy and can WFH 1-2 days a week.

I hope to take about 12 weeks off, I will have 2-3 weeks of vacation days and can go on STD I believe.

neener3

I'm going to take the year. We get paid 93% for the first 16 weeks, then the rest of the year is 55%. Last time, I said I was only going to take the 16 weeks because I didn't think we could afford it. But once he was here I couldn't go back. We made it work. This time we have more saved in the anticipation.

mc0113

We get paid 8 weeks off for vaginal delivery and 10 weeks for c-section. I plan on taking all of that plus my 3 weeks paid vacation for the year then staying home until I finish grad school. I should have 3 classes left after baby comes then hopefully I'll work part time for a small non profit eventually.

hellopartyof5

I get 16 weeks plus 6 weeks beforehand. I'll then add on my vacation days. This may actually be saving me, since at the exact time they are thinking of closing down my dept for outsourcing (ugh) I'll be out. However, they would need to provide me with a job when I get back. FX for myself! Lol

Eta: stupid autocorrect.

BootsAndPants

We have no paid maternity leave, so we've saved up for me to take the 12 weeks under FMLA. I'll have about a month paid with vacation/sick time, but the rest is all on us. Our benefits are through me, so I'll definitely be going back. My DH will probably take 2-3 weeks off.

I had more paid time with DD, but I've had to take quite a few sick days with her first 2 years of daycare, so I don't have nearly as much this time around. I think US maternity leave policies are very short sighted.

starfruit14

I work in the schools too and hopefully I will have the baby during Christmas break so it wont count as part of my 12 weeks. I still have to look into my maternity policy for all the details - I figured I would look into it after I tell my boss I'm expecting when school is out.

RosieB0514

I'm taking the 12 allowed under FMLA, but most likely tacking on a week of vacation before. My vacation starts over again January 1 so I considered taking some as bonding time as well, but I will most likely use it for appointments and sick days.

beachy6

I'd love to take the remainder of the school year off, but that requires my H to find a job. He lost his job in February and the job market is no joke right now. It sucks. So, it all depends on that. He better find something because I wanna be done in December and have extra bonding time before going back to work.

caden1206

I get 12 weeks off per FMLA. Some of it will be paid through my time I accrued and STD. I work part time right now, which isn't bad but might transition to PRN with two under two.

OhBaby+2013

I'm Canadian, so by law I'm entitled to a year off paid at about 50% of my pay for the full year. I will take the full year.

aeseager

I am so excited to be a SAHM. My husband and I recently moved to a state with a much lower cost of living around the time we started TTC. Right now I am just substitute teaching to help save money to buy stuff for the baby.

ZAP12

You guys are lucky! In my school district, you use your sick/personal days first at full pay and then they give you the reduced pay. Sick days that you take are included in your 6 weeks. Any vacation time for winter break is also included in your maternity leave. So no matter what, I get 6 weeks. Some of you have some pretty nice deals!

ajlmom

OhBaby+2013 said:

I'm Canadian, so by law I'm entitled to a year off paid at about 50% of my pay for the full year. I will take the full year.

Jealous! I think we all need to move to Canada! (Not sure if I can stand the cold though....)

merebear09

US Fed employee here. I hope to take all 12 weeks I am entitled to under FMLA, and that will be a combination of accrued sick and annual leave, advanced sick and annual, and LWOP. We'll see how it plays out. If I end up needing bedrest or have a preemie, I will be hitting up the leave bank. 

I make the majority of our income, and all our benefits are through me, so there's no way I can stay home for longer. Luckily though, my husband may be able to take off after I do, and even when he goes back, our schedules mean we'd only need a sitter for 2-3 hours in the afternoon/evening. Hopefully we can find a reliable high-schooler in our neighborhood (we just moved here) who wants an easy part-time job! 

Kasey880

That's crazy! My district only allows us 6 weeks! I'd love a year!

jenkellen

12 weeks through FMLA. I think 6-8 are paid at 50%, based on if I have a c-section. The rest I either don't get paid or I can use whatever vacation time I've accrued. I'll probably have my husband not use many of his days at first and save them if the baby gets sick after I return to work.

aml716

OhBaby+2013 said:

I'm Canadian, so by law I'm entitled to a year off paid at about 50% of my pay for the full year. I will take the full year.

Same. Fortunately enough my company tops-ups to 90% for about 6months.

emsrdh03

With DS I got 6 weeks.  Unpaid.  Yay America.  

This time I will have some PTO available, but not much, I only get 8 days a year and have only been at this job 1 year, so I'm saving like a wild woman.  I also have a STD policy that we pay OOP to help make up for the rest.  It won't pay out at 100%, but some is better than nothing.  It doesn't help that I'm the "bread winner" of the family.  With all that said I'm hoping to take a whole whopping 8 weeks this time, I don't think I will be approved for much more than that, it may only be 6 again.

AllTheTeaInChina

12 weeks per FMLA. The first 6 will be paid 60% under STD. I'll use PTO the second 6. I did the same thing with DD

Belle3184

I am allowed a full year, but none of that time is paid. That makes it hard. I think it would be easiest for the school system to have the interim teacher work the whole second semester, BUT I think I may come back after spring break.

mflowers929

I'm also Canadian. I'm hoping to take somewhere between 6-9 months. DH is getting a pt job til baby comes and I'm thinking of doing the same since my hours were cut by about 5/week. The $400 a month family allowance the government gives you (plus the milk stipend we're applicable for) will really help out.

jessinaround

SalemMarie said:

You guys are lucky! In my school district, you use your sick/personal days first at full pay and then they give you the reduced pay. Sick days that you take are included in your 6 weeks. Any vacation time for winter break is also included in your maternity leave. So no matter what, I get 6 weeks. Some of you have some pretty nice deals!

This is all I get too.

I plan on using my disability insurance to go out a few weeks before I'm due. And then we'll save to buy me a few more weeks home.

jessinaround

Edit: my phone double posted

ltp10

I'm a teacher and do not get any paid leave at my district. Next year will be my second year with the district. I believe I can take up to 12 weeks (not quite sure) but whatever I use beyond my sick days will be unpaid. I'm not sure how long I will take right now. 

BrideLinds

I don't think anyone in my company has ever had to take maternity leave so there probably isn't a standard yet. I guess once I tell them they will have to come up with something.....

Jealous of you Canadian mommies!

colliebabe

I would love to do so something similar to OP (leave in December and come back the next school year.) However in our district you have to work a certain amount of days for that year to go toward a step increase and retirement, so I might take off from Dec break and come back after April break. Then I'd work from April to June, and have the summer off.

JunkieBrewster

I am a SAHM so I don't get time off

When I did work while pregnant with my son, I was only allowed 6 weeks off, all unpaid.

I was laid off when I was 8 months pregnant, though and severance was 4 weeks. I just never went back to find a job after that.

frenchy816

I'm actually not sure what I'm planning to do is because my job situation is up in the air. 

If I stay at my current teaching job I want to take 12 weeks; most of it unpaid. 

However, I have a potential opportunity to teach from home online and I'm not sure about their maternity policy. I probably won't take as much since I would be working from home. 

SissynJitters

Right now I'm working a temp position that will probably turn permanent in the summer.  I will be taking the 6 weeks off (2 will be fully paid by my employer) and then put in my resignation to stay home with the kids.  Right now we can afford daycare, but I definitely don't make enough for it to be worth it with two in daycare.

TroopT45

I get 12 weeks but all of my pay comes out of my sick and vacation hrs I've accrued. After that I can take parental leave for up to a year. I would be forced to eat up all my time banks and then it would be unpaid. I'm still undecided about taking more time off this time. 12 weeks really flies by. I feel bad for those of you who only get a couple weeks! I couldn't do it.

merebear09

richardsj2 said:

merebear09 said:

US Fed employee here. I hope to take all 12 weeks I am entitled to under FMLA, and that will be a combination of accrued sick and annual leave, advanced sick and annual, and LWOP. We'll see how it plays out. If I end up needing bedrest or have a preemie, I will be hitting up the leave bank. 

I make the majority of our income, and all our benefits are through me, so there's no way I can stay home for longer. Luckily though, my husband may be able to take off after I do, and even when he goes back, our schedules mean we'd only need a sitter for 2-3 hours in the afternoon/evening. Hopefully we can find a reliable high-schooler in our neighborhood (we just moved here) who wants an easy part-time job! 

Me too! The moral of the story is that our 'maternity leave' sucks. Some of you ladies have some EXTREMELY generous policies! Take advantage of them!

I plan on taking minimally the 12 weeks as guaranteed by FMLA. This is unpaid leave unless I use my banked/saved sick leave and vacation time. Thankfully the fed government does have a fairly generous leave benefit so I've been saving my time. If I can negotiate with my supervisor, I'll try to take 16 weeks of leave and use sick/vacation time to get about half of it paid... and save the rest for future babies, doctors visits, emergencies etc.

@merebear09, I plan on trying to spread my SL, AL, and LWOP across the whole maternity leave so that I get half pay throughout the entire time off. I've worked out a rough sketch of what it'll look like for me. When I started researching maternity leave and disability insurance a year ago, I was SHOCKED that the government didn't have anything lol... silly naive me I guess!

Yay another Fed!

Ooh that is a good idea re: spreading out LWOP with paid leave! I think I will talk to our HR people and see what can be worked out there. I haven't been with the Fed govt long enough to accrue enough leave to cover me for whole 12 weeks, but I still get much more per PP than my friends in the private sector. That's the upside. But yeah, they don't give us anything for maternity. We get the *privilege* of funding our maternity leave, and they'll be so kind as to save our work for us for when we get back. 8-|

@richardsj2: My DH works as a coach, and he has to negotiate coverage with other coaches and the team/class coordinator. I don't know exactly what he wants to do when the time comes. He's said before that he'll be the stay-at-home dad, but he enjoys his job too much to give it up entirely.