FLMA Laws in PA

Mrs.EMommy

Apparently I live in the worst state in the country when it comes to maternity leave.  I get 12 weeks unpaid. My company isn't required to give us anything....so they don't.  And when I started working there last year it was too late to sign up for disability.  By the time they offered it again...oops.  I had a "pre exhisting condition."

I've started looking into unemployment but as far as I can tell from my research, maternity leave does not apply.  Does anyone know more about this?  Is there any way I can apply for some kind of temporary help?

 I'm so mad about this. I have a college degree and have worked since I was 16...why is there NOTHING available?  I've been paying taxes for years!  You know social security will collapse by the time our generation needs it.   When do we get to benefit from what we've been paying into for so many years?

I don't want a free ride,  I just want to avoid moving in with my in-laws while I learn to be a mom for 12 weeks.

 Sorry, that was such a hormonal rant. 

megs042107

you cannot apply for unemployment because you are, technically, still employed when you are covered by FMLA. ?

short term disability covers the compensable part of your leave. ?when you are covered by FMLA, your employer is required to either give you your job back or one that is comparable to your job once you return to work.

can you talk to your boss or HR rep to see if you could return to work after 6 or 8 weeks on a part-time basis? ?or work from home a few days a week? ?that way your leave won't be entirely unpaid for 12 weeks...?

CMDR513

I'm a teacher. I have to use all my sick days (which is 6 weeks). I will then not get paid for the remainder of my leave (roughly 6 weeks). DH took off from work during my hospital stay as well as for some time after DS was born since I had a C-Section. He got paid for 6 days (which was his vacation) out of 18 days he was off. PA does blow.

Mrs.EMommy

megs042107:

you cannot apply for unemployment because you are, technically, still employed when you are covered by FMLA.  

short term disability covers the compensable part of your leave.  when you are covered by FMLA, your employer is required to either give you your job back or one that is comparable to your job once you return to work.

can you talk to your boss or HR rep to see if you could return to work after 6 or 8 weeks on a part-time basis?  or work from home a few days a week?  that way your leave won't be entirely unpaid for 12 weeks... 

 

I work in news...so there is no option to work from home. I guess my only option is to go back early.  Maybe I can do it part time... thanks for your advice.

Schugar

Does your work have a sick leave bank (where others can donate to you?)?

KatieRL1979

It's not just in PA - FMLA is a nationwide thing (unpaid).  Unless you have some paid leave stored up or disability benefits from your job (where you are subject to enrollment deadlines and pre-existing conditions sometimes) you are unfortunately SOL.  The only protection you get is that you can get your job back after 12 weeks.

However - you can only get FMLA protection if you have been at your job for at least 1 year (and in that year you put in at least 1250 hours).  I am not protected by FMLA b/c I have only been with my job for 6 months - but I will get disability and what's left of my paid time off.  Luckily I'm pretty confident that my boss will give me my job back anyway when I come back in 8 weeks and I'm going to try and work from home to at least cover my health insurance premiums while I'm out.

MerrittMac2Be

Hi, also a PA mom-to-be here.  Apparently only 3 states in the country have paid maternity leave laws on the books at this point.  NJ has a law that will go into effect July 2009 allowing 6 paid weeks of leave for companies that meet certain criteria (similar to FMLA).  You aren't alone - my company is less than 50 people, is not required to offer FMLA, and can not garuntee that they will even hold my job for more than 6 weeks.  Luckily I've been here 5 years, so we are working together for a solution - but it is a really crappy situation all around.  And honestly, FMLA - while a good start, is not really that great of plan, considering America's economy is fundamentally driven by the small businesses.  Your options are to take a shorter leave, get a part-time job to make some cash at night while hubby cares for baby, or use whatever sick and/or vacation time you have saved.  Good luck, I know how scary it's going to be without a paycheck for 6-12 weeks... especially now.  Be positive and thankful that you'll have a job to return to when it's all over, I guess...

med2663

Just like people have said, your situation is pretty much like all the rest of us who work.  It not just PA and your company.  Misery loves company??