I currently work 40 hours a week, and I haven't decided whether I'm coming back or not. If I do, it'd have to be full time like I am now, with gas and tolls, it wouldn't be worth it to work only 12 or 13 hours a week. If I'm not going back, I think I'll leave September 1st (due 10/14) that way I'll have about 6 weeks to prepare for my little man.
I'm taking 12 weeks. Only 6 weeks will be paid though. I'm thinking about working remotely after the 6th week, but I don't think I'll make that decision until after the baby is born.
We have been trying to have a baby for 8 years. During those 8 years I have saved all my sick leave and vacation. I plan on taking 6 months off. I already told everyone at work. They know I've wanted to be a mom so they all understand I am taking as much time as I can. You should take the 12 weeks. It's your right and you don't get that time with your baby again.
I'm done after baby comes!! I'll work my butt of until then but after then I'll be a SAHM maybe I'll just work part time once baby is a year old. Hubby is great and supports whatever decision I make!
I own my business so I can't really take off very long. I plan on taking 3 weeks with zero work (my wife only gets 2 weeks paid and is taking 1 week unpaid for spousal support!)
I'm then going to work maybe 5-10 hours a week in my home office but hopefully I can be pretty low key about it. I'm hiring someone to do anything I can't do from home (I lead trainings and workshops). I also am going to have my assistant take over as acting director for about 3 months so I only have to do the most critical parts of my business- like handle the finances and she can do everything else (marketing, recruiting, email etc.)
I'm taking about 2.5 years . . . Ok, I'm actually not working outside the home right now, but in 2.5 years, my oldest will be in kindergarten and my younger will be old enough for preschool, so I'll be able to work at least part time.
When both kids are school-aged and attend school for a full day, I'll work while they're in school.
I can't see this one-income, living in an old 745 sq ft apartment and sharing a beat up car lasting forever. Eventually, we need to save for retirement and college. So we're sacrificing now so I can spend the kids' early years at home, then I'll go back to work.
I took 12 weeks off when I had DS. 4 paid through my accrued sick pay and vacation, 4 paid through STD (we got 8 weeks paid for a c-section, 6 for vaginal, but there was a 30 day waiting period before it started. BUT the 8 weeks started being calculated on the first day of leave so . . .). I ended up with 4 weeks unpaid. 12 weeks is not evough if you're breastfeeding, unless you're able to pump at work as often as you need to.
Take off whatever you are allowed without them being able to let you go.
My job is 8 week and if I have my son on my October 10th due date than that will bring me to the first week of December. I live in Rhode Island and winters are horrible. And why go back only to have snow days and Xmas and New Years off also. I want to go back January 2nd.
I have to say that I feel like moving to Canada now! I feel like there is a stigma about maturnity leave in the US and it's uncomfortable to even ask for 12 weeks. I will be taking 12 weeks but very little of it will be paid. Only what vacation time I have accrued by then.
Silly question but (I have no idea because in Canada we get a year)... Who watches baby when you go back? In Canada most centres or home day area will not accept a baby under 12 months
I love your system over there! Almost all daycares will except infants here but it is generally more expensive than an older baby or child. I believe most will take them at 6 weeks. I am luck enough to have a wonderful mother in law that will watch my baby for the first year.
My company is amazing. Between company-paid maternity leave, PTO and disability I'll be able to take 6 months off! I plan on using that whole time, as a FTM, to really get into my wee one.
My goodness, you're lucky! If you don't mind me asking, what type of company do you work for?
I'm allowed 8 weeks but if the doc recommends more I have up to 12 weeks. I'd love to take the full 12 however my department is only 3 people at work so they would have to pick up my days. Not that it matters I have a good excuse! I'm just waiting for the guy to start making part timer remarks toward me. My pregnancy Tourette's may have to come out when he does
I will become a SAHM and also watch my nephew who is 10mos older. I just wish there was paternity leave here ! Men should be able to enjoy and use this time too. The only people who get a year off here are those that take government help (not against anyone on aid just those that misuse it while other moms work and miss out) Along with the year in Canada is there any length of paternity leave?
In Canada you can switch off between paternity and maternity leave. Either parent can take it, or it can be shared. So for example, I could take the first 8 months and my husband could take the last 4.
Do it! I would if I could. FMLA does not apply to me since my employer has less than 15 (I think) employees. Us small small business employees get the shaft and don't have the government protection. She's good to me and will still allow 12 weeks...unpaid. I'm getting 4 weeks paid maternity and using my 2 weeks vacation time, the other 2 weeks I'm taking is unpaid. Times like these I wish I was in another country!
In Canada you can switch off between paternity and maternity leave. Either parent can take it, or it can be shared. So for example, I could take the first 8 months and my husband could take the last 4.
We have something similar in the UK, although I don't think it's a vastly popular option. Last time me and DH did 6 months each (mainly so we could trial him becoming a SAHD before committing to it fully). It was really great for us to be able to switch from maternity to paternity leave. This time I'm planning to take 9 months.
I work for the Federal Government in DC and unfortunately they don't offer paid maternity leave. So I've been saving my sick and personal leave and with no hiccups I should have about 6 weeks. We have a few different work options such as telework (working from home twice a week) and hoteling (working from home and coming into the office once a pay period). I'm going to ask to do a combination of both starting my 9 month (my commute is car, train, bus for an hour) and after my 6 weeks is up.
My company allows for up to 16 weeks FMLA (unpaid), with pregnancies receiving paid time of 2 weeks before due date and 6 weeks after (8 weeks for a c-section). I have been with my company for over 20 years (started in my teens) and receive about 30 days a year in paid time off. Since the baby is coming in early October, I will accrue most of that and will only take 5-6 days off during the year before then. I hope to have about 4weeks of paid time to use in addition to the paid maternity. Based on when the baby arrives (I have had 2 preterm births), I will take 12-16 weeks. We can live off of one of my pay checks, so we can save a bit during the early maternity to pay for the final few weeks.
Don't let anyone guilt you into coming back earlier than you're ready. I know my job would like for me to come back in time for the holidays but that's their problem. I'm taking my full 3 months paid maternity. I also get 4 weeks vacation each year, so if I really wanted to I could take 5 months off using 2015 & 2016 vacation. I'll most likely take 4 months though so I can have spare days here and there.
Thankfully, my company just shifted from STD paying 70% for up to twelve weeks to getting 100% pay for the 12 weeks. I will be using every drop of that, and vacation if I can get away with it.
I'm Canadian as well - I'll take my full year guilt free! I'll actually be picking up extra shifts if I'm feeling up to it in the last three months. Maternity benefits here pay 55% of your average pay from the last three months before you leave work.
I work for myself and I plan to take off Sept. 21(ish) through the end of the year (I'm due Sept. 28). I'll then likely work reduced hours. So, I think the total will be about 14-15 weeks.
I'm a teacher and my school contract offers 90 school days of leave total, although only 26 of them will be paid. With the holiday breaks combined with the 90 days, it works out to where (if I work up until my due date) my last day of leave is the first day of Spring Break. I sometimes feel very guilty about taking the full time off because I will be missing so much of the year with my students but I keep telling myself that I will never regret taking the time to be with my baby.
I'm only taking four weeks off, but thanksgiving break (I'm a teacher) falls during what would be my fifth week. I'm going to have such a hard time the following three weeks waiting for Christmas break!
Be careful. In some states the employer doesn't have to hold your position for you after the 4-6 weeks you get from disability after labor. They can't legally fire you if your taking the full 12 weeks but they cant "guarantee" you your same position when you get back. So look into it with your employer and their policies. It gets tricky. Good luck and enjoy all the time you can with your baby!
Re: How long is everyone taking for maternity leave?
I'm then going to work maybe 5-10 hours a week in my home office but hopefully I can be pretty low key about it. I'm hiring someone to do anything I can't do from home (I lead trainings and workshops). I also am going to have my assistant take over as acting director for about 3 months so I only have to do the most critical parts of my business- like handle the finances and she can do everything else (marketing, recruiting, email etc.)
When both kids are school-aged and attend school for a full day, I'll work while they're in school.
I can't see this one-income, living in an old 745 sq ft apartment and sharing a beat up car lasting forever. Eventually, we need to save for retirement and college. So we're sacrificing now so I can spend the kids' early years at home, then I'll go back to work.
I took 12 weeks off when I had DS. 4 paid through my accrued sick pay and vacation, 4 paid through STD (we got 8 weeks paid for a c-section, 6 for vaginal, but there was a 30 day waiting period before it started. BUT the 8 weeks started being calculated on the first day of leave so . . .). I ended up with 4 weeks unpaid. 12 weeks is not evough if you're breastfeeding, unless you're able to pump at work as often as you need to.
My job is 8 week and if I have my son on my October 10th due date than that will bring me to the first week of December. I live in Rhode Island and winters are horrible. And why go back only to have snow days and Xmas and New Years off also. I want to go back January 2nd.
Preg #1 - PTL @ 23.5 weeks - angel in heaven (Addison Margaret)
I'll actually be picking up extra shifts if I'm feeling up to it in the last three months. Maternity benefits here pay 55% of your average pay from the last three months before you leave work.
I took my 12 weeks and never went back. Haha.