Found out my maternity leave isn't paid after all...
JenniferTCU
member
Let's just say my head spun completely around on my neck. I am so over it all.
Background: I've worked for the company for 4 years. HR told me several weeks ago that although I am a commissioned sales rep, maternity leave will be paid based on my draw. So I was going to get 2 weeks at 100% and 4 weeks at 60%. I could deal with that. Plus, I will have two paid weeks of vacation which I will use then, too.
This week, I find out that she was incorrect. Instead, I continue to get my draw during maternity leave but dig myself into a hole because as soon as the leave is over, I will owe my company a large sum of money which they will take out of my first commission check following maternity leave. WTF. Seriously. Fine, though...if this is the way it's going to be, I will take off 12 weeks and someone else can deal with everything til I get back. Asshats.
Re: Found out my maternity leave isn't paid after all...
Wow, that sucks so bad. Pretty big boo boo for HR to make. You'd think they'd know their own policy a little better. I like your attitude though...screw them. Enjoy your time with your little one!
OMG! That sucks so bad!!! But like you said take the 12 and screw them!
That's what I am doing. I am talking 12 and only 2 are paid. I was going to use 2 weeks of my vacation just to get paid during the 12 weeks, but then I am like no way I am not wasting it. I earned it. So now I am taking a week in July and then one in Dec and I will take the pay for one on maternity.
I just can't believe some policies are that rotten.
Can you apply for short term diability to get something?
I agree. That's a pretty big goof. Someone in that position should know their policy before telling you something completely wrong!
!
Oh, no!
Jennifer, I am so sorry! I would be angry too, that's a total ripoff! I hope they can revise it for you.
Ugh! That does suck royally. I hope when your HR rep is in, you'll find a loophole or something.
Good luck!
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OMG, that sucks. It enrages me how craptastic the paternity leave is here in the US! Sickening.
At least you found out now and not later. Sounds like you have a good plan of just taking the time you (and the baby) need...and telling them to suck it.
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Oh that just blows! Hopefully you can catch a break on that one. I'm not sure why, but it seems to be universal that no one in a company knows exactly what the maternity leave policies are. I work for a very large, Fortune 10 company, and no one here knows anything. You'd think this stuff would be written down somehwere in an easy to understand format. GL!
Ditto this. I work for a very large healthcare organization and I was told by HR when I first found out I was pregnant that I could use all of my short-term disability if I wanted to and had it to use. I would have had all twelve weeks paid at 100%. I was feeling really lucky. A coworker told me she just went down to HR and was told we could only use our STDB for however long the doctor said (in writing) we needed to be off. Generally 6 weeks for a vaginal birth, 8 weeks for a C-section. In any case, I do not have much PTO/vacation saved up because I was misinformed in the beginning. Paternity leave is clearly outlined in our policy manual but maternity leave not at all.
I really can't complain because I realize I have it better than most, but it's still frustrating. I'm sorry for your situation.
Agreed. And it makes it awkward when you need to know and have to ask (I had to do this so we could make some decisions about TTC and it was really uncomfortable for me because I am one of the "big bosses" but am new on the job...coming up on a year...and needed to know).
Why can they not spell it out in b&w in the Employee Handbook. Sheesh!
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Seriously, maternity leave is extremely confusing! My HR dept. was clueless as well. At first they told me I get 12 weeks at 60% pay through SDI. Then they said it was only 6. I had to do my own research & inform them of the PFL law in CA. Our HR rep had no idea what I was talking about, then later insisted she had given me that info to begin with. I can't really complain though cause at least I get something partially paid.
Bottom line is, do your own research for your state. You'd think that an HR dept. would make it their job to know the laws, but if they're not the ones who are pregnant then who cares, right??
Sorry, that sucks.
I have no idea why maternity leave policies are so confusing. You almost need a Rosetta stone to understand some of these policies. Of course, I think it should be mandated that we all get 12 months off like other countries but that's the socialist in me