Maternity leave?

happygirl11709

I am not quite sure what to do about my job. I live in Houston, TX and I am a full time retail manager, so I can take up to 12 weeks with FMLA. I have already used a few weeks though because I was so sick in the beginning. I was just informed that every time I had taken a PTO day that I was also charged 1 FMLA day which seems pretty unfair to me. Anyway, I am planning on taking my maternity leave starting July 24th and I'm due August 15th. I don't make a lot of money and spend quite a bit in gas and toll going to and from work. I'm not really sure it will even be worth it to go back to work if I have to add daycare to the list of bills. The only thing that is keeping me at this job right now is my insurance. Do any of you ladies know if I have to pay anything back if I decide not to come back after my leave is up? Do I take my leave and then have to come back and give a 2 weeks notice? I can't really ask anyone at work or in HR because I need my insurance for the hospital bills. Please help!!!

kellynkyle

I have no idea, but wanted to say good luck and congrats on your LO!

charlotteL

I left my job while I was on maternity leave.  I didn't have to pay anything back, but I also didn't get paid anything except for the few vacations days I had.

Erika&Brian

This is company/policy specific, so you really need to ask. You should be able to call the benefits department directly assuming you work for a larger employer. 

If they did terminate your benefits on your last day worked (I work in HR and have never seen this, but have heard some employers do it), you would have to elect Cobra for insurance coverage, which is very expensive, but not as expensive as no insurance.

TXBELLA

I work for a very large company and I know several women who quit right as their maternity leave was ending. They were not asked to pay back any of their benefits but I understand for my company it was up to the individual Director to make that call. 

Not really sure the actual "law" or "rules" but I would think if you returned from maternity leave and worked a week or so and just decided that your priorities are much different and you want to SAH for a now, there wouldn't be much that the company could do. I could be totally wrong though.