Maternity Leave

ShabbyGeek

I don't think we discussed this recently so I wanted to bring it up.  What are your plans for maternity leave?  

I get 13 weeks paid at 100%, which I am grateful for, and I am hoping to work until I go into labor.  I am a FTM and hope this won't be too difficult, I am just worried about going into labor early or at work... anyone else have these same fears?  I might use an extra week or two of vacation at the end of my leave depending on when LO gets here, but I don't need to decide that until the end of my leave so that decision is still about 6 months away! 

singingsea

I get eight weeks paid at 100%. I too plan to work till I go into labor. As far as going into labor at work...I work in a family business. Probably make my bro clean up the mess cause I'm an evil sister

AimnJus917

I'm taking 12 weeks - only 6 are paid at 100% (8 weeks for c/s) and the rest are unpaid.  I did this the 1st time and I was ready to go back at 12 weeks.  I also have 4 weeks of vacation which I plan on spreading out through the rest of next year.  I am working until I go into labor.  I can work from home for my job so I will probably just do that for the 2 weeks before EDD.  I normally work at the office 2 days per week and 3 at home.

Puck1182

My plan is to take six weeks off or eight if I need a csection, using sick time to get paid 100. After that I'm planning to go back on a reduced schedule, working 3 days/ week. I'll take one of my days off each week as paid vacation, and one as unpaid FMLA. That will give me a total of 21 weeks before I'm back at work fulltime.

Heartstrings13

My office just moved to another state and I am petrified of going in to labor during rush hour, which puts the trip to my hospital at about 2 hours.  My doctor has said he can put me on STD up to four weeks early.  Since we'll be going weekly at that time, I'm going to play it week by week and see how long I can go before he thinks that I might need to just stay home.  There isn't anything wrong with PA hospitals, of course, just me being afraid that I don't know them like I do mine...

As for maternity leave, I am getting four weeks paid, then moving on to STD, which pays 6 weeks and another 6 weeks of baby bonding (unpaid).

k8917

Wow, you ladies are all lucky in my book! 

 I will get 6 weeks of tdi which is only about 60% of my salary, then I'm left having to use up all of my accumulated vacation time to eek out another 5-6 weeks.  

anything beyond that is unpaid.

the only good thing is I don't believe my job would ever be in jeopardy, even if I were to take a full year off 

 

I do plan to work up until I go into labor as well - I work at a hospital, just not the one where I will be delivering!  (that hospital is about 45 mins from my work, but very close to my home) 

tiff012982

I too plan on working up to the week of my first due date (2/16).  I feel pretty great and am only taking a few days before to pamper myself with a mani/pedi/massage and spend a couple of quality days with my DD.  With DD I taught a spin class and a strength training class and went into labor 8 hours later.  I hope to do the same with this one.  As far as maternity leave, I only get to use sick days (I'm a teacher) during the disability period.  After that, I can apply for partial pay for 6 additional weeks through the state of NJ.  During disability and FMLA (12 weeks) my health insurance must stay intact.  The only good thing is that I pay for private disability insurance as well, which pretty much gives me an additional 8 weeks of almost fully paid benefits.  This allows me to stay out the rest of the school year and go back in September.

froggystomper

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

ericalee27

I'm taking 12 weeks.  6 weeks are 100%, 4 weeks are 60% and 2 weeks are 0%.

 I was able to take 16 weeks with DS1 and am sad that I can't take as long this time.  But just couldn't swing it...

onlymeggan

I get 12 weeks.  They will use all of my PTO time and then pay me 100% after that.  Once I return to work and start accruing my PTO time again it will "pay back" a portion of what they paid out to me and then I will get to keep the rest of the time I accrue from there on out.  I'm super excited about this because I thought I was going to have 8 weeks at 60%.  6 weeks after my c-section I have to have my gall bladder removed so I'm going to need the 12 weeks to recover from 2 surgeries and get to know my newest lil man.

Karla CS

So many lucky ladies working at awesome companies that are covering any portion of their maternity leave! 

I'm thinking I'll be taking 1-2 weeks STD before the baby arrives, followed up by using all my vacation and sick time. My workplace has to uphold FMLA requirements, so I'll be taking 12 weeks in total, with anything not covered by sick/vacation paid out at 60%.

I really need to find one of these companies with paid maternity leave of any kind! 

KD79

I agree that a lot of the ladies on here are lucky.

We don't have short-term disability at my employer, but long-term kicks in at 60% of my pay after 60 calendar days, which is just beyond the normal maternity leave of 6 weeks.  Quite convenient for my employer.  therefore, I need to use my sick and vacation banks to cover my time off, if I want to be paid.

I'm having a repeat c-section, and plan to take 8 weeks (and 2 days) off.  My sick and vacation banks will cover all of that, plus leave me with about 3 weeks additional, just in case something goes wrong and I go out early.

My c-section date is scheduled for Feb. 1 (a Friday).  I'm taking the previous day off and plan to get a pedicure and do whatever else I need to do to get ready for the baby. The plan is to return to work on Monday, April 1st.

onlymeggan

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

That's super tough, I'm sorry.  I was out of work when I had our first and it is tough.  Fortunately, I had unemployment at the time so that helped us.  Look into WIC and other programs that can assist you.  Some places offer discounted childcare based on your income and there are state programs to assist with daycare for working parents based on your income.  You could try to get a job at a daycare and a lot of times you will get a discounted rate for your child at the location and you'll be bringing in a paycheck.  I wish you the best of luck!

jhutt321

I'll have to use up my vacation and sick time before STD kicks in and then I get 6 weeks paid at 60% and then another 6 weeks unpaid FML. My work keeps thinking I'm not going to come back but I actually like working and I have a wonderful daycare that DD goes to that #2 will join her at as well.

JBos82

I plan on working up until I go into labor. I work at home 3 days a week now, and my boss is very flexible. As the date gets closer, I'm sure I'll be able to take a bunch of work home and just mail a package back once a week if I don't feel comfortable going into the office anymore (it's about 50 miles from home).

I don't get any paid time off for maternity, but we get 6 weeks for regular birth, 8 weeks for c-section. I have short-term disability and AFLAC short-term disability... combined, I'll still be getting paid exactly what I make now, maybe a little bit more. I'll have to talk to HR again to go over how to cover taxes and insurance and all that in the meantime.

I'm also going to tack on some PTO time, probably an extra two weeks after maternity runs out. That will be paid 100% as I have the time to use. And I'm going to sign up for FMLA coverage just to be on the safe side.

ShabbyGeek

onlymeggan:

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

That's super tough, I'm sorry.  I was out of work when I had our first and it is tough.  Fortunately, I had unemployment at the time so that helped us.  Look into WIC and other programs that can assist you.  Some places offer discounted childcare based on your income and there are state programs to assist with daycare for working parents based on your income.  You could try to get a job at a daycare and a lot of times you will get a discounted rate for your child at the location and you'll be bringing in a paycheck.  I wish you the best of luck!

I agree with all of this, and I think working at a daycare could really help! Even if it is just part time (if it is something you could do along with your current job).  Good luck!!  

marionravenwood

I'm taking off 4 months, but only 6 weeks of that is paid.  I'll have to take leave without pay for the rest.  Then my husband is going to take a month off when I go back to work.  I'm working up until I'm due.  I have 4 weeks of vacation/SL that I will forfeit when I go on my maternity leave so I'm trying to use all that up before the baby comes.  I'm planning to use a couple of days here and there toward the beginning of February when I'm anticipating being huge and uncomfortable!

MexiCali

I will wipe out my sick and vacation first. It's company policy. So I have a full month paid. Then I will start std at 65. My company pays the extra 5...woo hoo. Then I will roll over to PFl for another 6 weeks. All in all I will get 4 months.

I will work till I go into labor. I have already assigned a driving buddy in case something happens at work. Last pregnancy I did fine. So all hopes for this one.

bumpuser5925118

I plan on working up until I'm in labor, or my doc tells me otherwise. I get 2 weeks STD at 60% pay, and can take up to 12 weeks off (total) and still have my job.  I plan on taking all 12 weeks. I have to use up all of my vacation, which I'll have around 25 days or so, plus the two weeks STD, then the rest will be unpaid.  I'm jealous of everyone who gets 100% pay the whole time they are off, but lucky that we can afford me to not get paid for a few weeks. 

starting all over again

I am able to take 1 yr at 65% of my wages (Canadian), my employer gives 4 weeks of top up and I am entitled to 4 weeks vacation time before I return to work. So if I take 8 weeks, I am paid 100%. I would love to take the full year for maternity, but will only take what I can financially afford. Who knows, maybe not working will drive me nuts and I might want to go back early! Doubt it!!!

Runaway22

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

Oh... my word. I'm not alone!!! I am in this exact boat. I have to use all my vacation and sick days (luckily it'll amount to a few days shy of 3 weeks, if I don't have to use sick days for, oh, being sick). My employer said they'd "work with me" on doing a partial telecommute for "a few months" (whatever those things mean), but my boss lady keeps reiterating to me how I need to get childcare. When I mentioned the cost, she laughed and said I'd be lucky to get it that cheap. Really? You stamp my paychecks, you KNOW I can't afford that. I don't know what she's trying to get at with all that. 

PM me if you want to talk. This stuff has me stressing like crazy, too!  

froggystomper

ShabbyGeek:

onlymeggan:

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

That's super tough, I'm sorry.  I was out of work when I had our first and it is tough.  Fortunately, I had unemployment at the time so that helped us.  Look into WIC and other programs that can assist you.  Some places offer discounted childcare based on your income and there are state programs to assist with daycare for working parents based on your income.  You could try to get a job at a daycare and a lot of times you will get a discounted rate for your child at the location and you'll be bringing in a paycheck.  I wish you the best of luck!

I agree with all of this, and I think working at a daycare could really help! Even if it is just part time (if it is something you could do along with your current job).  Good luck!!  

I have no vacation or sick time or any type of PTO at all. I am on WIC currently and wait listed until the later summer early fall of 2013 for child care assistance.

Working at a daycare isn't really an option for me. I have no working experience outside of retail/food service, I have a compromised immune system(I get sick VERY easily), and vast majority of care centers I have looked into require a degree of some sort to obtain employment. If I could I wouldn't be able to maintain my current job as its a day shift job, but I'd replace my current job. Either way the places I've looked into still wouldn't hire me.

I've found no income based child care in this town aside from the county wait list which I am on. The cheapest one I found would basically eat all of my monthly income (roughly 25-50 dollar crash space but that is it) so that's not really helping the matter. 

I've considered going back to school as the local college actually has a day care center for students to use. I wish I could get answers about aid before baby girls arrival. Or that I had any notice about this pregnancy at all. (I have and IUD in place so to say that this wasn't planned is a bit of an understatement.) Any time to prepare would have been nice, ya know?

Thank you for the idea ladies- I just keep hoping something works out here.

KTMonson11

Originally i had planned to work until my due date, but really, I applied for my year leave starting Feb 1 (one week b4 due date) and will use 3 vacation days for that time. Once my leave starts and the baby is born I get topped up for 5 months of pay, and then call on unemployment (a percentage of my wage) for the rest of the year. Can not wait for this to start!

Coltonsmommy2013

I started my maternity leave last week since i have 9 1/2 weeks my DS is suppose to arrive. Im a package handler and its required that each employee must lift up to 70 lbs with no restrictions and my OB didnt like that very well. At my job, you get 20 weeks before the baby is born paid at 60 and only 6 weeks after the baby is born at 60 also. So im getting everything ready for my DS

lemonadepink

froggystomper:

ShabbyGeek:

onlymeggan:

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

That's super tough, I'm sorry.  I was out of work when I had our first and it is tough.  Fortunately, I had unemployment at the time so that helped us.  Look into WIC and other programs that can assist you.  Some places offer discounted childcare based on your income and there are state programs to assist with daycare for working parents based on your income.  You could try to get a job at a daycare and a lot of times you will get a discounted rate for your child at the location and you'll be bringing in a paycheck.  I wish you the best of luck!

I agree with all of this, and I think working at a daycare could really help! Even if it is just part time (if it is something you could do along with your current job).  Good luck!!  

I have no vacation or sick time or any type of PTO at all. I am on WIC currently and wait listed until the later summer early fall of 2013 for child care assistance.

Working at a daycare isn't really an option for me. I have no working experience outside of retail/food service, I have a compromised immune system(I get sick VERY easily), and vast majority of care centers I have looked into require a degree of some sort to obtain employment. If I could I wouldn't be able to maintain my current job as its a day shift job, but I'd replace my current job. Either way the places I've looked into still wouldn't hire me.

I've found no income based child care in this town aside from the county wait list which I am on. The cheapest one I found would basically eat all of my monthly income (roughly 25-50 dollar crash space but that is it) so that's not really helping the matter. 

I've considered going back to school as the local college actually has a day care center for students to use. I wish I could get answers about aid before baby girls arrival. Or that I had any notice about this pregnancy at all. (I have and IUD in place so to say that this wasn't planned is a bit of an understatement.) Any time to prepare would have been nice, ya know?

Thank you for the idea ladies- I just keep hoping something works out here.

 If you are really interested in the daycare idea, you should try applying anyway. I'm sure it can vary by region, but where I live, daycares do not require a degree for most positions. 

 I am planning to work up until I go in to labor, as I have a desk job.  I'm open to that changing though if necessary.  I also plan on taking 12 weeks unpaid.  I work for a very small office, and I do not get any paid time off.  My job is not protected by FMLA, but I have an amazing boss who is very flexible with me.  I have never gotten paid for time off at my job, so I knew to save up before we started trying to get pregnant.  Things would have been much more difficult if this pregnancy had been unplanned or if I didn't already know what to expect regarding paid time off, but I'm happy with how things are going to work.

eatdrinkstretch

I am planning on working as long as I can.  I currently work from home one day a week and I can already see that my boss and my division director (both childless men) are totally freaked out by my pregnancy, so I don't think I will have any problem getting them to let me work from home as much as I want in January (I am due January 31st).

I do not get any paid maternity leave and we don't have STD (I work for the Federal government and our leave policies are totally bogus).  I will take 6 weeks paid through accrued sick leave, and then will take a combination of accrued vacation time and LWOP.  I am scheduled to take 16 weeks off, my may go back to work sooner (maybe around 14-15 weeks) depending on when we get into daycare and how I am feeling.  I started saving to cover my LWOP as soon as we started TTC, so I at least feel financially secure in taking the time.

mrskhey

I'm there with you! I'm also a fed and in the same exact situation. The only thing that  I have is leave sharing which I will have to write a memo to my chief about and hope that I will be accepted. I only will have an absolute max of 15 days accumulated since leave is earned. Then I'll have to go into FMLA unpaid which is obsurd! There is no family that will be helping us and like you cannot afford child care or to not work..... GOOD LUCK!
 

froggystomper

lemonadepink:

froggystomper:

ShabbyGeek:

onlymeggan:

froggystomper:

You ladies are so lucky. I get the federal requirement. That's 6 weeks UNPAID. I'm freaking out pretty much non stop. We live pay check to pay check and have had no extras to put away really. I have no way to pay for child care, no family to help watch my DD, and no means of earning income at home with baby... I'm pretty much terrified.

That's super tough, I'm sorry.  I was out of work when I had our first and it is tough.  Fortunately, I had unemployment at the time so that helped us.  Look into WIC and other programs that can assist you.  Some places offer discounted childcare based on your income and there are state programs to assist with daycare for working parents based on your income.  You could try to get a job at a daycare and a lot of times you will get a discounted rate for your child at the location and you'll be bringing in a paycheck.  I wish you the best of luck!

I agree with all of this, and I think working at a daycare could really help! Even if it is just part time (if it is something you could do along with your current job).  Good luck!!  

I have no vacation or sick time or any type of PTO at all. I am on WIC currently and wait listed until the later summer early fall of 2013 for child care assistance.

Working at a daycare isn't really an option for me. I have no working experience outside of retail/food service, I have a compromised immune system(I get sick VERY easily), and vast majority of care centers I have looked into require a degree of some sort to obtain employment. If I could I wouldn't be able to maintain my current job as its a day shift job, but I'd replace my current job. Either way the places I've looked into still wouldn't hire me.

I've found no income based child care in this town aside from the county wait list which I am on. The cheapest one I found would basically eat all of my monthly income (roughly 25-50 dollar crash space but that is it) so that's not really helping the matter. 

I've considered going back to school as the local college actually has a day care center for students to use. I wish I could get answers about aid before baby girls arrival. Or that I had any notice about this pregnancy at all. (I have and IUD in place so to say that this wasn't planned is a bit of an understatement.) Any time to prepare would have been nice, ya know?

Thank you for the idea ladies- I just keep hoping something works out here.

 If you are really interested in the daycare idea, you should try applying anyway. I'm sure it can vary by region, but where I live, daycares do not require a degree for most positions. 

 I am planning to work up until I go in to labor, as I have a desk job.  I'm open to that changing though if necessary.  I also plan on taking 12 weeks unpaid.  I work for a very small office, and I do not get any paid time off.  My job is not protected by FMLA, but I have an amazing boss who is very flexible with me.  I have never gotten paid for time off at my job, so I knew to save up before we started trying to get pregnant.  Things would have been much more difficult if this pregnancy had been unplanned or if I didn't already know what to expect regarding paid time off, but I'm happy with how things are going to work.

 

Finished calling around today, all but one day/child care center in town requires you either be actively in school, hold a certificate/degree, or be a licensed day care provider. I'll follow up with the one post baby girls arrival, its a long shot but a little hope. Maybe. So scary.