Work-related stress

MrsCharlieRN

Hello everyone!

Just a little background: I'm 27 years old and married, pregnant with my 1st child. I'm about 6 weeks and 2 days along at this point. My pregnancy wasn't planned, but it wasn't not planned, either. I wanted to stop taking my pill and we figured whatever happens happens. 

I'm a registered nurse on a bit of a fast paced floor. Now, there has to be something in the water up there because including myself, there are 6 pregnant women on my unit. We're all due between August-September. Obviously our staffing department is not too happy about this.

So human resources decided to let me know that since I'm due in September, I will only be with the company for 11 months at that time. Therefore, I'm not allowed to take an actual maternity leave. I'm allowed 30 days personal leave, then I will be terminated after that point. I asked her if that was even legal and she said that only after 12 months will I be protected by the FMLA. She also told me, "Sometimes you need to plan better." 

Um, excuse me? Who the hell is she to tell me I need to plan better. I'm a grown woman. I'm married. I have a house. I'm financially stable (well, hopefully it remains that way and I don't get terminated). I mean, really? WTF?

So now I'm freaking out. It's not like I have a desk job where I can sit at work. I'm on my feet all night. My job involves a lot of heavy lifting and I have to push a heavy med-cart. I'm fine with working right up until I'm due, but what am I going to do if my doctor says I need to be out of work earlier? Then I lose my benefits. How the hell can I afford to have a baby if I'm going to lose my benefits because my job will terminate me? And even if I make it until my due date, 30 days just doesn't seem like enough time. What if I have to have a C-section? Gah... so much unneeded stress right now. 

peytons mommy

If I were you I would contact an attorney and recount the meeting you had where she said this to you.  Did the other pregnant girls have similar meetings??  I would at least find out your rights.  While you are on your allowed 30 day leave you will then hit your yr mark with the company.  Can you then start FMLA??

These are questions I would ask a lawyer.  It wouldnt hurt to ask, as this is your and your families future.

Good luck.

swan_ghost

That is SO. messed. up.  I am so sorry you have to go through all that 100% unneeded stress.  It is completely unfair and the lady who said such a rude thing to you should be ashamed of herself.  I truly hope that it all gets sorted out.  You really deserve the upper hand in this.  

allsmilesCMT

What state do you live in? Some places will let you use your STD benefits without having to tap into the FMLA benefits that relate specifically to pregnancy. I would definately look at having a consult with a lawyer.

superned

Unfortunately, your HR department is right that you are not covered by FMLA until you have been employed with the company for 12 months.

However, if you'll be at 11 months at your EDD and are given 30 days leave, that would make you an employee for 12 months.  Are you represented by a union?  I would start there if you are.

You could check with an attorney, but the FMLA requirements are pretty clear.  If you are required to go out of work before your EDD, it sounds like you'll be out of luck.

Would you be eligible for unemployment if you got laid off?  I would start looking into that, as well as trying to see if you can find an STD company that would cover you now that you're already pregnant.  (Not sure if such a thing exists; I imagine the rates will be quite high if it does.)

I can sympathize - I work in a nonprofit and we're in great danger of some huge funding cuts starting in July.  (And if I survive that, then we're going to be required to re-bid for the work, so I face losing my job AGAIN in October.)  It's very, very stressful, so DH and I are already planning for what we'll do if I lose my job.

hmp1

Will you have any sick time or vacation time that you can tack on to the end of your 30 days?  I would also read through your handbook to see what it states for how long your company allows disability leave and how long you have to work for the company to be covered for leave.  FMLA does require 12 months employment.

LeanneOfHonour

What a situation!  I wish American mat leave was the same as Canadian mat leave, nurses here get a full 12 months off and get to return to their awesome jobs.  I wish you could move up north!

MrsCharlieRN

I have vacation time and sick time. I'm going to see if I can maybe schedule the vacation time for when I'm due so that'll tack on a week... then I guess we'll see if I'm allowed to do the same with sick time. I live in NJ and the state will pay short term disability for maternity leave for 18 weeks unless there are complications, which they will pay more time. They pay 1/3 of your salary, which is better than nothing. I have to see if my husband can do something with insurance from his job. We only chose to take the benefits from my job since they had better coverage for a better price but if I get termed and lose those benefits I'm not sure what to do. I'm going to have him contact his HR department and see if he can explain the situation to them so that we can enroll under his plan.

I spoke to one of my coworkers, who is also pregnant. She went through this with her first child last year. She said they made her resign her position. When she had the baby she had to reapply and start the orientation process all over again. She had to start back at the starting pay-rate and lost seniority. She's now pregnant again and is dealing with the same situation, even though she's been with the company longer than a year, they started her back from the beginning when she had to reapply. She'll be with them for 11 months when she's due for this baby.

I think they're in a panic because everyone is going to be on leave. Having to cover 6 full time employees for maternity leave at the same time has to suck, but still... what are we gonna do?  

dufferoo

She is probably technically correct about FMLA, which sucks, but how rude and what an awful company to work for anyways! If they are like this about your maternity leave, think about how they will be if your baby is sick and you need to take a day off.

If I were you, I would start looking for a job somewhere more family-friendly. If you can find somewhere before the baby is born and they are cool about maternity leave, I would leave your current job immediately (and yes, you should discuss maternity leave before you accept the job, even though they might not hire you because of your pregnancy, just to avoid getting in this situation again!) Otherwise, just take your 30 days from this job knowing you will be out of a job at the end of it, and then start looking for something new as soon as you feel ready. One good thing about that tactic is you get to wait and see how you feel after the baby is born before you decide exactly how long you need and what kind of schedule you feel able to return to.

hmp1

MrsCharlieRN:

I spoke to one of my coworkers, who is also pregnant. She went through this with her first child last year. She said they made her resign her position. When she had the baby she had to reapply and start the orientation process all over again. She had to start back at the starting pay-rate and lost seniority. She's now pregnant again and is dealing with the same situation, even though she's been with the company longer than a year, they started her back from the beginning when she had to reapply. She'll be with them for 11 months when she's due for this baby.

I think they're in a panic because everyone is going to be on leave. Having to cover 6 full time employees for maternity leave at the same time has to suck, but still... what are we gonna do?  

I think that part is illegal. I believe FMLA is total time with the company not uninterrupted time. This does not sound like a company I would want to work for.