Who is considering working from home during maternity leave?

C.Mo · February 2009

I am. I'm not 100% though, since my boss is the type that would call at all hours regardless to make sure I was meeting a deadline.

Not that I'm even sure I can do it yet. I'm still debating whether or not I should discuss it with him. I was thinking if I bring it up, I would tell him that I would like to use all of my paid vacation and sick leave first and then perhaps do some computer work from home and get a part-time salary? That would be better than nothing. Don't know how he would feel...

But the 8 weeks of not being bothered with work and playing with Squishy are so tempting....

What are you doing?

Neudorfer · February 2009

working from home isn't taking maternity leave. enjoy that time without pressures from work! your baby deserves it and so do you and don't even think about feeling guilty about it one bit!

toospooky · February 2009

I'd take the maternity leave. That's what it's there for.

NewlywedNVA · February 2009

I'm (already) reading GF's Guide to the First Year of Motherhood, and it pretty specifically advises NOT to do this...you think you have pregnancy brain now, just wait until you're completely sleep-deprived and haven't showered and are so utterly consumed with your precious baby...

That's not a direct quote from the book, but close. It's basically saying you'll have NO idea how to answer the question anyway, so better to make yourself unavailable to your boss than to appear to have lost your mind!

It's a tough decision though - GL! I plan to follow the Guide on this one...

AngelaEsq · February 2009

I will be using my 2 weeks vacation and then working from home/coming in with the bambino.

I know I'm crazy, but disability won't even cover my student loans, let alone mortgage, food and diapers.

JCM · February 2009

You may want to discuss this with you HR department 1st. To my understanding you OB will write you off as disabled for a minimum of 6 weeks and not release you to go back to work until after that time. It would be against the law for your employer to let you work during your disability at home or not.

alli&pat · February 2009

heck no!!! i'm taking leave during leave which involves not having to worry about work in the slightest. the only way i would consider this is if i took my first 12 weeks and then they allowed me to stay home an additional 4 weeks working from home. unless there is a financial reason, i think you need to stay home, bond with your baby, and know that the work will get done or be waiting for you upon your return.

C.Mo · February 2009

Neudorfer:
working from home isn't taking maternity leave. enjoy that time without pressures from work! your baby deserves it and so do you and don't even think about feeling guilty about it one bit!

Good point. It was only because of money anyway. We've been saving our butts off, so I'm sure we will be fine without my salary for 6 weeks.

Mrs_mam · February 2009

I am taking all the leave I can get. I will work from home after my maternity leave (SDI) is used up, and I may start part time at first.

LGMHRS · February 2009

I am planning on taking my FULL maternity leave with out thinking about work at all (12 weeks) and then asking if I can work at home for a week or two before I actually come back.

MidwestTexan · February 2009

I am keeping my current job once the baby is here, just switching to part time hours and working from home. My boss told me I can take off as much time as I need, so I imagine I won't work at all for a few weeks and then start putting in 5-10 hours per week and slowly build up to the 20 hours per week I have discussed with my boss. She said to just wait and see how I feel after the baby is born! (Isn't she an awesome boss?!?!)

MegDC · February 2009

Taking full leave is not an option for me, sooo.... I will be available by phone an email a week or two after I give birth. I'm a consultant and so is DH, we both can work from home and will have to be available to our clients at least by phone.

erino&chrish · February 2009

Neudorfer:
working from home isn't taking maternity leave. enjoy that time without pressures from work! your baby deserves it and so do you and don't even think about feeling guilty about it one bit!

Ditto. As good as it may sound (sounds like a win-win situation), you're going to be exhausted and you don't want extra pressure from work.

karachop · February 2009

I'm actually contemplating this as well. With DH laid off since September, I'm the sole breadwinner and only get 6-8 weeks (depending on vag or C-section birth) and then I have to eat into my sick and vacation days. I'd like not to eat into too many of those for fear I'll have over 3 months of the year left where something can happen (family travel, baby sick, I'm sick, etc.) and I'll need to be away from work.

Things are so up in the air until DH finds a job.

If my boss is open to it, I think I'll work from home like 20+ hours a week after my 6-8 weeks just to have some kind of income coming in. For a month or so, then I'll go back. Unfortunately, my desire to be a SAHM (for @ least 1st year) isn't conducive in this economic environment!!!! >:(

joelle&joseph · February 2009

I only took 2 weeks completely off with my 1st and then I checked email and answered questions by phone as needed for another 4 weeks. It was hard at times but I made it through. This time I plan on doing the same thing but it would be nice not to be bothered or thinking about work for 6 weeks.

FinallyThatGirl · February 2009

I already work from home but my job is demanding and requires me to be on the phone almost 8 hours a day. I will work anything revenue or money producing (bc that is money I can make while out with very little work needed) but will not be activley pursuing business. I work in an inside sales/recruiter position.

Pesky · February 2009

Nope. I remember being on STD for a shoulder surgery and got yelled at for showing up at the office to pick up some work during that time. Apparently if you are out on disability (and that's how most employers pay you during your ML is through STD), you are OUT. Any working or coming back in can negate their coverage of you and give the insurance company a free ride to skip payment. So I would say if you want to get paid for your ML, take the full time off. I did arrange with my boss to come back PT for 2 wks and then come back FT after that but I used PTO for that.

peachypear · February 2009

C.Mo:
I would like to use all of my paid vacation and sick leave first and then perhaps do some computer work from home and get a part-time salary?

Yes, if you work you should get paid! I'd also notify HR so that it doesn't count as part of your 12 weeks (which don't have to be consecutive).

I'll be checking in with work periodically, just to answer questions that come up, etc. Basically, I'll check my email once a week and answer the phone if they call. (I know they won't abuse it). But I won't actually be working. It's my leave! I'm not paid and I only get 12 weeks. I do plan on working from home part-time when I return.

HockeyWife4Life · February 2009

The first 8 weeks will strictly be maternity leave and the remaining 4 weeks I offered to work on special projects from home. I figured it would help out financially and I wouldn't have to use all of my sick/vacation time during those last 4 weeks. I also think it will be a nice way to ease back into work. My DH will be home all day with my anyways, so he will be able to care for the baby so I can work a few hours a day if I need to.

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