Quitting while on maternity leave?!

xraychick07

I was wondering if any of you put in your notice while already out on maternity leave? I am currently covered by my own insurance and would like to keep it until after the delivery of our baby. I will not be returning to work but don't want to be surprised with any bills in the mail if I call and put in my two weeks, two weeks before returning. I would go ahead and let them know now, but I work for a hospital who will make my life miserable and try to push me out the door early if I let them know, and my husbands insurance has a REDICULOUS premium. Just needing some advice, or wondering who I should talk to like HR or just calling the insurance company! It makes it a lot harder to find out when you are having to keep it a secret! Thanks!

asyph107

As far as I know, most companies including my own. If you do not return to work for at least the same amount as your maternity leave you are obligated to pay that hospital bill. My SIL who worked for Bed Bath and Beyond, thought it was only a corporate job thing but she had to return after maternity leave or else pay the hospital bills.

jnealet

You should read your employee handbook.  If I were to quit during maternity leave, I would have to either come back and work my notice or pay back all of my insurance and STD used while on Maternity leave.

 I wouldn't tell them beforehand because you probably would be let go or told that it wouldn't be possible.

jenuine

I would check the handbook and agree with the other posters. Don't expect a reference from me if you quit before returning.

Could you go back for even a couple weeks and quit then, saying that the return is harder than you expected? I'd be more understanding of that as a manager than someone who knew ahead of time and just used my company.

Personally, I'd just switch to your spouses insurance when ever open enrollment is and quit before they hire/train a temp to cover for you.

erstwhile+maven

My DH's company won't allow me to enroll in his insurance unless I am without coverage through loss of job, etc.  and it takes 30 days for coverage to activate.  I'd have to quit well in advance of the delivery to be comfortable with not being covered for a full month. 

Though I read today on the SAHM board that if you quit on the first day of the month you have that months coverage from your job... so technically you could make it so that you always have coverage... it just takes advanced planning and you'd have to stay on top of paperwork, make phone calls, etc.  Make sure you know how enrollment at your DH's company operates before planning to just switch.

trinny

jenuine:

Personally, I'd just switch to your spouses insurance when ever open enrollment is and quit before they hire/train a temp to cover for you.

Agreed, though you might need to look into the "pre-existing condition" issues.  Usually when you have a life-event, like changing jobs or the birth of a child, you can switch without being in open-enrollment.  As long as you are going from one health plan to another health plan without a gap in coverage, pre-existing conditions are covered.  Should be a simple call to make to your DH's insurance.

Stacyc625

trinny:

jenuine:

Personally, I'd just switch to your spouses insurance when ever open enrollment is and quit before they hire/train a temp to cover for you.

Agreed, though you might need to look into the "pre-existing condition" issues.  Usually when you have a life-event, like changing jobs or the birth of a child, you can switch without being in open-enrollment.  As long as you are going from one health plan to another health plan without a gap in coverage, pre-existing conditions are covered.  Should be a simple call to make to your DH's insurance.

this- having a child = life-event = you can sign up within 60 days after the birth of the baby and put both you and baby on.

Personally I would give notice 2-4 weeks before due date if you know you won't come back after ML. I think quitting during ML is RIDICULOUSLY unprofessional- and I would never recommend it.

TheMrs923

Stacyc625:

trinny:

jenuine:

Personally, I'd just switch to your spouses insurance when ever open enrollment is and quit before they hire/train a temp to cover for you.

Agreed, though you might need to look into the "pre-existing condition" issues.  Usually when you have a life-event, like changing jobs or the birth of a child, you can switch without being in open-enrollment.  As long as you are going from one health plan to another health plan without a gap in coverage, pre-existing conditions are covered.  Should be a simple call to make to your DH's insurance.

this- having a child = life-event = you can sign up within 60 days after the birth of the baby and put both you and baby on.

Personally I would give notice 2-4 weeks before due date if you know you won't come back after ML. I think quitting during ML is RIDICULOUSLY unprofessional- and I would never recommend it.

All of this

jnealet

erstwhile+maven:

My DH's company won't allow me to enroll in his insurance unless I am without coverage through loss of job, etc.  and it takes 30 days for coverage to activate.  I'd have to quit well in advance of the delivery to be comfortable with not being covered for a full month. 

Though I read today on the SAHM board that if you quit on the first day of the month you have that months coverage from your job... so technically you could make it so that you always have coverage... it just takes advanced planning and you'd have to stay on top of paperwork, make phone calls, etc.  Make sure you know how enrollment at your DH's company operates before planning to just switch.

This isn't always true, check with your company first.

Dochas

asyph107:

As far as I know, most companies including my own. If you do not return to work for at least the same amount as your maternity leave you are obligated to pay that hospital bill. My SIL who worked for Bed Bath and Beyond, thought it was only a corporate job thing but she had to return after maternity leave or else pay the hospital bills.

I don't think they can retroactively cancel your insurance.  They may make you reimburse them for the part of the premiums they paid while you were out.

Maybride2

Dochas:

asyph107:

As far as I know, most companies including my own. If you do not return to work for at least the same amount as your maternity leave you are obligated to pay that hospital bill. My SIL who worked for Bed Bath and Beyond, thought it was only a corporate job thing but she had to return after maternity leave or else pay the hospital bills.

I don't think they can retroactively cancel your insurance.  They may make you reimburse them for the part of the premiums they paid while you were out.

Sure they can.  They can legally count your last day of employment as the last day that you worked before going out on ML.  Depending on the policy you might be covered until the end of that month..........but that's not a guarantee. 

kcisthebombdotcom

I did. I did not have to pay any hospital bills, only the premiums from my insurance plan. I would venture a guess that the majority of employers don't have anything specific in their handbook or new hire paperwork outlining a maternity plan that states you have to return for x amount of time to not have to pay back any bills, but it's probably in your best interest to investigate just in case. If you don't have a copy of your company's handbook ask HR for one, and ask to see your file as well just to be sure you didnt sign anything like that when you were hired. If you didn't, you're in the clear.

I disagree that you'll always have a bad reputation and get a bad reference if you resign on leave. I quit on maternity leave and left on good terms with my employer and they provided me a positive reference. They had planned for my absence for 12 weeks, so when I resigned at 4 weeks, they had already planned on not having me around for an additional 8 weeks. I offered my assistance in the interim with training my replacement, but they were very supportive and happy for me. They ended up having someone in my role before I would have even returned from leave as the person who covered my leave accepted my position.

GL!

baby4dee

Many of the benefits that we assume are gifts from our organizations are actually ones that we have earned. Definitely double check but you may be worried for nothing. I quit my job while on leave for another opportunity. I learned long ago to look out for myself and my family above all else. Companies operatewithout conscience. You, no matter how wonderful, smart and educated are expendable. Without a days notice, you can be let go, at will if it so benefits the company. You may burn a bridge with your direct report or a few colleagues bit that's their problem If you worked hard, were an exemplary employee you will be ables to get references from a number of others including clients and other VPs who experienced your professionalism. Its not personal.