Maternity Leave at a Small Company

EvelynDeBelle

Does anyone have any good recommendations for how to approach the whole maternity leave thing in the workplace? I work for a small company who  doesn't really have policy and I would like to try work something out when I do get pregnant so that I get some good quality time off with baby (hopefully paid!) and possibly make arrangements to work from home a few days a week after returning back to work.  I did hear a rumor that we may be getting short term disability insurance now.  I'm currently TTC but thinking seriously about the future... I'd love to hear your input.

mrstommyp

This is my opinion both as a mother and an employer.  First off what you are legally entitled to depends on how small your company is.  If you have at least 50 employees at your company you qualify for FMLA, which is 12 weeks of missed work.  It is not paid, just a garauntee that your job (or an equivalent position) will be there for you upon return.  For payment find out what your options are for short term disability both at your company and with independant insurers.  Not every option gives you 100% payment and typically only last 6-8 weeks depending on the type of birth.  Wait to tell people at work until you're at least 8-12 weeks along.  Don't feel like you need to have your maternity leave and return to work options all ready before you tell your boss that you're pregnant.  You will want to gage some of that on their reaction to you even being pregnant.  If you come at it right away with "I'm 3 weeks pregnant and I want to take 6 months off and be part time after the baby is born" your boss will not be pleased.  When you do decide on how long of a leave you are going to take and what you want to do when you come back formulate a plan and bring it to your boss, don't go in and ask "what do I get?"  Hope this helps! 

EvelynDeBelle

Thank you, that is really helpful information.  My company currently has less than 20 employees, so I'll just have to wait and see.  I like your idea of being proactive and going to management with a plan in mind and I think my boss would respect that idea. Thanks!

KristiPerez

I work at a company with about 48 employees so we don't have a policy in place.  This is my second child and I have been with the company 8 years.  When I had my son, they made/let me take all my sick time and vacation time which was paid but nothing after that was paid.  I took six weeks and I came back with no sick time or vacation time left.  It wasn't ideal but I had to do it.  If they won't give you maternity leave paid, you might try this option.  Good luck to you!

Mrsalt027

I am in a similar situation-I work for a small company that is predominantly male and I am the only employee that this would be happening for so basically, there is no policy. I talked to my [female] manager about this awhile back and she suggested that I take out a short-term disability plan with AFLAC [our supplemental insurance company].

 I do not have insurance through my company but I am still allowed to buy a short-term disability plan through AFLAC. I don't remember all the details but I know the most important thing was was the plan must be purchased 10 months before use. So basically you couldn't become pregnant, purchase the policy and then expect to use it for maternity leave. Its frustrating and kind of appalling that they don't have a plan in place but this is the best solution I have come up with. 

I also believe the plan rolls over from year to year. I actually purchased the policy last year before even TTC because I wanted to make sure I was covered in case I became PG unexpectedly. HTH!