intro & maternity leave question *Updated

Curls218

Hi all,

I've been lurking on here for a little while now.  I'm a FTM from NJ who works in NYC, due in Sept.  I am meeting with my bosses tomorrow afternoon to discuss my maternity leave.

A little background - I work in the entertainment industry.  We're a small company (9 employees) so we don't qualify for FMLA and we don't have short term disability.  I'm the first one to have a child in the history of the company (which has been around just under 20 years).  And I have worked here for about 9 years.

Any advice on how to negotiate this?  I have an idea of what I want to ask for, but I'm willing to negotiate down by a few weeks if they won't agree to it.  I'm going to let them bring up how much would be paid (I have some vacation and sick time, but that would only cover a few weeks).  We thankfully can afford to have me not paid during this time, but it'll be tight and my salary would help.  Did any of you have to help create a maternity leave plan for your company?

 

**Update - thanks again for all your help.  I gave my proposal and they agreed to it!  I'll be fully off for 10 weeks (which they indicated would be paid) then I go back and work 3 days in the office and 2 days from home through the end of the year before going back completely full time in January.

ridesbuttons

Like any negotiation start with your very best scenario (pad it even if you need to, just keep it in the realm of reality) and then come to a mutual agreement.

Other than that I have no advice.  It's crazy what you have to put up with in terms of mat leave down there.

Clynnpollock

Be realistic and be flexible. Maybe going back on a telecommuting or part time basis at a slightly earlier time is possible, use that if you can... 

DFico21

Hi!  I am in a very similar situation as you but I live and work in NJ.  My company does not fall under the FMLA either and I am the first person ever to have a baby while working here.  The state of NJ gives us STD of 6 weeks for vaginal birth at 2/3 pay (we pay into this).  The state also offers 6 weeks FML to bond with your baby at 2/3 pay (our company pays into this).  You can take these back to back so I will be getting 12 weeks at 2/3 pay.  The only catch is there is no job protection. 

I'm not sure how all this might apply to you because you work in NY but this might give you something to work off of.  For me I did all my research first and then went in and told my employers how long I would be taking and we devised a plan to cover my work for that time.  Since they are not paying any of my leave I did not give them an option on how long I was taking, only that I promise to come back at the end of the 12 weeks full time and do whatever needed to train employees to cover me for the leave.

Curls218

Thanks, all!  I am going in with a plan (I also am referencing the "ideal maternity leave" thread below) and will see what they say will be paid full salary.  If there is a difference between what they're willing to pay full salary (with me using vacation time, sick days, etc) then I will ask to be put on short term disability through their insurance.  It seems like NY requires all employers to have this, so even though I don't pay into my own STD plan, they should have something to offer.

I'll let you know how it goes!