Lanie (...and other Canadian mommies)

BerriGirl

I'm so curious about how your maternity leave works. Did you have off for a year? Was there any pay? And what's it like to go back to work after being gone that long? Is the same job with the same pay, or something different? Can't imagine being gone that long and getting back into the swing of things.

And how did your LOs react to the new arrangement (not being with mommy all day, new childcare...)?

lanie26

Hi Berri. You get 1 year off paid by EI Maternity Benefits. It's not your full salary. It's like 65% of your salary up to 45k? So no, nowhere near your full. But, some employers (like mine and my husbands do a "top up" so you get pretty close)

Your job is guaranteed OR a job similar at the same pay rate. I came back to exactly the same job. We hired a woman on contract to take my place and I trained her for 3 weeks before I left.

I actually had a year off but only took 6 months. I went a little crazy at home.

It was easy to hop right back into the swing of things and I've been back over 7 months now. Its great. You can also split the time between your partner. So partner A can take 6 months and partner B can take 6 months. And you can also take them at the same time. So you could both be off for 6 months.

Jo easily adapted to daycare but we're lucky and she's with her daddy 2-3 days a week because he works shifts as a nurse. And in daycare the other 2-3. She's only cried a couple of times when I've left. But is in love with her daycare provider and we love the place we put her.

I like the choice to leave for a year. IT gives other employees learning opportunities so people here generally like mat leaves as others just below them can be hired on contract to learn a new job. I dunno. I can't imagine any other system.  

Brookie-Cookie

I am blanking on specifics right now...But I want to say we get 55% of what you earned the previous year for 1 full year.

When the time is up your employer must have a job for you, not neccessarily the same job just something that is equivalent to level/pay etc.

I haven't gone back yet so I don't know how my LO will be.  Actually I haven't decided for sure if I am going back. 

The company that I work for has had some major lay offs and they are union based and there for layoffs were done by seniority.  I am fairly junior and I know people with more seniority than I have been layed off.  I wonder how that works for me exactly...

BerriGirl

Fascinating.

habsoilers

I'll be going back to work in May when DD will be 9.5 months. I'll still have 2.5 months of mat. leave to take so DH is going to take that last 2.5 months and stay home with DD. He's very excited about it. I've already told him that if he has any questions about DD while I'm gone, he can ask you ladies!