WWYD? Re: STD pay

SLHurst11

Theoretically... if you planned on leaving work to be a SAHM after this LO was born, but then found out you were eligible for 2 weeks full pay, and then the rest of your STD period at 60% pay, would that effect your maternity leave plans?

Theoretically, of course.

Perhaps your DH thinks you should just take the STD and tell them later than you've decided you won't return, but you feel guilty about that.  Or perhaps you're considering returning for a few weeks or a month, just to negate some of that guilt... but you're not sure that's enough.

Theoretically.  (Have I said that enough? )

KellersPrag

At my company, regardless of whether you are staying or leaving after your maternity leave, they will offer whatever options are available to you. They won't even ask you until your leave is up if you are coming back.

So. I say take it.

Gilene2011

I think some companies require you to return to work to be eligible.  I would look into your companies policy. 

If that's the case, then just return to work after your maternity leave is up and put in your two weeks notice. 

SLHurst11

Oh, I would absolutely give notice.  I wouldn't leave them hanging.  It's just a matter of if I'd go back at all, or just tell them at some point during leave that I wouldn't be returning.

Theoretically.  If I were in the situation.  Yikes, I'm having some guilt over this.  Haha!

RockyMtnMama

SLHurst11:

Oh, I would absolutely give notice.  I wouldn't leave them hanging.  It's just a matter of if I'd go back at all, or just tell them at some point during leave that I wouldn't be returning.

Theoretically.  If I were in the situation.  Yikes, I'm having some guilt over this.  Haha!

My friend did this, but her company required that you return to work for 2 weeks after your STD pay-out or else she had to pay it back.  So she went back and on that first day back gave them written notice for 2 weeks.  Her company saw that pretty often, so they weren't shocked and it gave them the opportunity to hire her temp as a full-time and she could train her a little more in the 2 weeks she was there before leaving.   

denise_m

Depending on your state and company not telling you aren't returning and then not returning can cost you. 

If your company offers the leave under the condition and assumption that you are returning you may have to repay all benefits paid since your last day of active employment. This includes any pay and any benefits (such as healthcare).

I would have the hypothetical talk with HR before making any decisions. 

BLuvsE

They have been taking money out of your check to cover STD pay should you ever need it. It's yours. Take it.

Milliways

denise_m:

Depending on your state and company not telling you aren't returning and then not returning can cost you. 

If your company offers the leave under the condition and assumption that you are returning you may have to repay all benefits paid since your last day of active employment. This includes any pay and any benefits (such as healthcare).

I would have the hypothetical talk with HR before making any decisions. 

This is true if your leave is considered protected under the FMLA, regardless of if you are also using STD. 

 

melindam

No question at all.  Take it.  You've paid into it one way or another (either directly with money from your paycheck or indirectly with the company paying for it in lieu of other benefits they could have spent money on) so it's yours to take.  As others have said, if the company requires you to return, do so and then give notice.  Otherwise, just give notice while you're on leave. 

If you're feeling guilty, be non-committal with your supervisor about your return.  Say you plan to return but you also don't know how you'll handle childcare and it will depend on how you feel once you have the baby.  Women do it all the time.

 

tobysnuggles

Take it. At my company after STD which is 6 weeks with pay, if you don't return you owe back the medical benefits the company paid during this time, not necessarily your entire paycheck and all STD payments. It you return after FMLA which can tack on another 6 weeks with no pay, it's the same thing, you owe back the portion of the medical benefits the company paid during this time.

choppinbroccoli22

I planned to go back, and I took what my insurance offered. I then did not go back. It was a gut-wrenching decision that had nothing to do with the $2500 or so that I had taken in STD pay. I wouldn't judge you either way.

choppinbroccoli22

tobysnuggles:

Take it. At my company after STD which is 6 weeks with pay, if you don't return you owe back the medical benefits the company paid during this time, not necessarily your entire paycheck and all STD payments. It you return after FMLA which can tack on another 6 weeks with no pay, it's the same thing, you owe back the portion of the medical benefits the company paid during this time.

I did not owe my company any money after taking 6 weeks STD and full FMLA. We were house-hunting the whole time for a home that was a commutable distance to my work, in areas we could only have afforded if I did go back full-time. I had a breakdown the night before we placed an offer. It wasn't something I ever intended. My boss didn't require anything of me. She asked me to come in for 2 weeks during the summer to cover someone's vacation while she was hunting for my replacement, and paid for my hotel.

christyhal

As pp's have said, whether you have to pay back any benefits you've received if you don't go back to work may depend on your employer's or insurance company's policies.  I currently run my own business, but at my last employer you had to go back or you owed them whatever was paid to you (benefits and pay) since the first day of your leave.  I would make inquiries before deciding what you're going to do!

KiraH28

They may make you pay back any benefits that you had gotten in the time you had been out, like PPs said. I'd definitely look into that before making any decisions.