maternity leave

imagrl10

I am going to let my job know this week as far as my maternity leave and how long i plan on being out for.  I am in education and would miss most of the school year next year, so want to give them PLENTY of notice.

I am nervous about telling them..any tips? 

bubble515

13 weeks.  according to our handbook, if we want to take more than 12 weeks we have to give 6 months notice.  im taking more than 12 weeks..

bubble515

whose OP?  not the same person. maybe their employee has a similar policy?

Mrs.S-S

bubble515:

13 weeks.  according to our handbook, if we want to take more than 12 weeks we have to give 6 months notice.  im taking more than 12 weeks..

Unless this is a right that your union has bargained for you....I would be carefull "telling them" that you are taking more than 12 weeks. Under federal law you have the right to take 12 weeks without losing your job. Any more than that - you may not have a job to come back to because legally, they don't have to hold it for you. Again, this is assuming your union didn't bargain extra-long leave or something. I would find that hard to believe if they did, though. So, just be careful to tell them something that may come back and bite you.

obeach8

Mrs.S-S:

bubble515:

13 weeks.  according to our handbook, if we want to take more than 12 weeks we have to give 6 months notice.  im taking more than 12 weeks..

Unless this is a right that your union has bargained for you....I would be carefull "telling them" that you are taking more than 12 weeks. Under federal law you have the right to take 12 weeks without losing your job. Any more than that - you may not have a job to come back to because legally, they don't have to hold it for you. Again, this is assuming your union didn't bargain extra-long leave or something. I would find that hard to believe if they did, though. So, just be careful to tell them something that may come back and bite you.

It depends on your company and on your state. I live in NJ, and my company is private. My company does not offer maternity leave, so whatever pay/benefits I get is through NJ Short Term Disability. There is also the NJ Family and Medical Leave Act that requires an employer to hold your position for you, should you decide to take add'l UNPAID time off. The limitations are that you can only take off 12 weeks total in a 24 month period, so really, an add'l 6 weeks off. The state also allows you to take 4 weeks at the BEGINNING of your maternity leave, with your 60% disability pay, but you cannot tack that on to the end. I'm not sure why, but I know that's the case if you want to go out early for medical reasons.

There is a Federal FMLA as well, but I'm not as familiar with that. We have all the info for the NJ one here in our break room, so I have read up on it.  

bubble515

thank you obeach.  i am also in nj.  i am going to put something in writing that our handbook says i can take up to a year and my job is protected. this was very helpful! i didnt think of that point you made.

Mrs.S-S

I was talking about federal FMLA. I understand that state leave may be more generous (NJ is...I am in OH and there is no state leave or STD at all). However, the main point is that niether federal law nor any state law is going to give you 12 months off of protected leave. If your job has a better policy in place that allows you additonal time - awesome. I just wanted her to check in to this before she banked on taking leave and then not having job protection.

OP - That's great that your job gives you up to 12 months. Enjoy it! 

grapeape73

I'm a teacher and had DD1 in November.  I had planned on taking the entire school year off, but my principal talked me into working the first quarter.  Then I used all my sick leave time, and put in for a leave of absence for the rest of the school year.  It was pretty easy actually.  My job was guaranteed for the following school year, and I signed a new contract in May of that year.