Working moms, I have a question about leave.

JayandJack

I just talked with the lady that does my HR. I don't qualify for FMLA becuase our office is <50 people which I had done my own research and knew before hand. She also confirmed the standard time off for a regular delivery is 6 weeks and 8 for csection. 

Was anybody allowed to take more time off if they wanted to? I really wanted to take off 8 weeks (assuming normal delivery) instead of the 6. I don't know why I just wanted to. There has only been one other girl who delivered this year and I believe she got 8 weeks (I'm checking on that).  I understand I'll still only get paid as if I was taking the original 6 weeks (2 unpaid and 4 @ 60% per policy) and then I'd assume 2 weeks unpaid.

Did anybody have any luck? What was or could be used as an argument?

katattack

There isn't any argument really, as it is policy, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  They may just make you take it unpaid.

Taytee

I guess it depends on the importance of your position, your ability to negotiate and just how flexible they are. If your position is essential and they'll really be missing you, it may be more difficult. Also, if they're paying for a temp in your absence they may have more resistance to paying for an extra 2 weeks of that.

If you really want the 8, all you can really do is ask/negotiate etc.

Will you also be using any allocated PTO/Sick time? That's really all I had when I had Abby because I was too new to qualify for FMLA or STD.

JayandJack

Taytee:

I guess it depends on the importance of your position, your ability to negotiate and just how flexible they are. If your position is essential and they'll really be missing you, it may be more difficult. Also, if they're paying for a temp in your absence they may have more resistance to paying for an extra 2 weeks of that.

If you really want the 8, all you can really do is ask/negotiate etc.

Will you also be using any allocated PTO/Sick time? That's really all I had when I had Abby because I was too new to qualify for FMLA or STD.

I'd be using any PTO/Vacation for the first 2 weeks to get paid so I wouldn't have any left. 

I'm not really essential but depending on what happens I might be missed a lot or they could schedule things for when I return. I'm in a team of 3 and when one is gone it's a pain but I'm the least qualified of the 3 (not a bad thing in this case, I can't program code). I don't think they are going to get an intern to help but they could change their minds as we get closer.

I'm really hoping the other girl got 8 weeks so they'd let me take 8. 

Taytee

If they say no, ask them to meet you half way. Request to come back part time the first 2 weeks (weeks 6-8). That way you can get projects started and some things done while still getting plenty of valuable time with your LO. Sometimes it's easier to transition to daycare/nanny PT anyway.

smb29

Would your doc do your paperwork so that you couldn't go back for 8 weeks?  I told mine when I was planning to go back and that is the date she used when clearing me for working.  That might only be an FMLA thing though.

michelleaxo

Taytee:

If they say no, ask them to meet you half way. Request to come back part time the first 2 weeks (weeks 6-8). That way you can get projects started and some things done while still getting plenty of valuable time with your LO. Sometimes it's easier to transition to daycare/nanny PT anyway.

This! I am in an essential position so, although I was eligible for FMLA, this office would have been in a very bad position without me for very long. I ended up taking 5 weeks (using sick and vacation) and then I came back part time for another 3 weeks, each week progressivly increasing in the time I was at the office. The first week I came in two hours a day, the second was four hours and the third was about 6 hours. I was able to use sick and vacation time to cover all of my hours that I was not at work while "part time". I highly suggest trying to ease your way back in to work, I really feel like the slow transition helped me to cope with being away from her at first. HTH!

texmommy3

Taytee:

If they say no, ask them to meet you half way. Request to come back part time the first 2 weeks (weeks 6-8). That way you can get projects started and some things done while still getting plenty of valuable time with your LO. Sometimes it's easier to transition to daycare/nanny PT anyway.

This is a good idea!

JayandJack

Thanks ladies.

Thankfully I think my boss is very understanding and I might be able to work from home for 1-2 weeks after the initial 6 weeks.  I need to ask him after he gets done with a big project sometime this week. Hopefully he'll be understanding but I could always use the ick factor since he doesn't have kids and doesn't understand.

ndluvsrk

I think it depends on your manager/boss.

I work for a large company and we have the standard 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 weeks for C-section, all paid at 100%.

My manager gave me 2 extra weeks (because she's awesome) but my friend who works for the same company, but different area, had a manager who refused to give her any extra time off.

Do you have a policy in your company called 'management-directed time off' ?

Anyway, good luck! It is so hard to go back once baby is here. So so so hard! I was blessed with the amount of time off I had and it still wasn't enough. 

ebat

Just ask for what you want first.  I know at least 1 company that the employees aren't eligible for FMLA and they let employees take 12 weeks(
unpaid) if they want to.  A good manager should understand the value of an employee who's ready to come back versus one who really wishes she had a little more time with her LO.