Work and Maternity Leave Dilemma - WDYT?

balihaigirl · March 2009

I'm trying to figure out what to do about my maternity leave. My boss wants me to start trying to find someone to temporarily fill my shoes while I'm out on maternity leave. He wants me to train whoever we find (this will take a few days) and I'm trying to figure out what to do as far as my maternity leave goes. I was originally planning on working up until I go into labor - but now I'm wondering how this is going to work out with having someone else in the office (there will not be enough work for both the temp and myself). So I'm trying to decide when would be a good time to have a temp start, if I should leave on my due date, etc. Mind you, my maternity leave is 100% unpaid and I am the main breadwinner in our family. Thus, any time I take off will eat $$$ out of our savings.

I was thinking that I could have whoever we find start working the Wednesday before my due date so I could train them and get them up to speed, and then I could make that Friday be my last day (before maternity leave). Then I would tell my boss I would be off and come back 6 weeks after the baby is born (so if I'm overdue I'd be sitting at home with nothing to do for 2 wks and no $$$ coming in). Thus the max time I'd be out would be 8 weeks (assuming the baby is 2 wks late).

WDYT? Should I risk this? Do you think there are any alternatives? I'm also worried that if I wait until that late - what if the baby comes early (I know, that's wishful thinking, but still, it happens). I guess my coworkers could train whoever fills my shoes...

Do you have any suggestions? Also how miserable were you while you were overdue? Do you think I'll be bored at home?

Thanks for you help!

aynjc · March 2009

I would go with bringing to temp in 1 week before your due date if you only need 1 week to train her. If you go early, is there anyone else who can help train the temp?

The last person at my work that went on maternity leave went into labor early and someone else ended up training the temp. You have to do what's best for you and not worry about how things will run when you are gone.

Good luck!!!

rbidi · March 2009

I would have the temp come in with enough time to overlap with you. And if they sit there doing nothing, or you sit there doing nothing for a bit, that's fine, as long as you get paid. I would also write out detailed notes on how to do your job, in case you leave early and someone needs to finish the training, they will know exactly what to teach them.

KYRN · March 2009

Would it be possible to find a person and bring them in and train them and tell them that you will not be able to give them a firm start date? Then wait and see how you feel/when you go into labor have them start only after they are needed, or talk to your boss and tell him that you can bring someone in but you want to keep working as long as possible and see what he says about you both working at the same time.

marcandjen · March 2009

I'm actually the branch manager for a temporary staffing agency, and any good agency should be able to find you someone within only a couple of days' notice, so you should be able to play it by ear and see how you feel, even if you are technically due/overdue. Example- one of my clients called me for something last Friday, I had resumes to them same day, they did a phone screen yesterday and the person starts tomorrow. You don't want to line someone up too far in advance, because they may find something else between the time that you secure them and the start date (and you can't really blame them, because as temp candidates, they are unemployed and want to work ASAP).

If you work with a good agency that has a deep candidate pool, and they can get you a quick turnaround, you can play it by ear and have someone in the seat within a couple of days- so that way you don't have to worry about going out and then sitting at home unpaid.

mrsg052904 · March 2009

That's a tough one because I know plenty of people that went early. However, this is completely out of your control and no matter what plan you come up with - it may not work out that way. If you are most comfortable with one week before your due date - go with that. And just know that anything can happen. I was getting a little worked up about training someone at work because I really care about what I do and my coworkers. I expressed my anxiety to my supervisor and she calmed my fears. At the end of the day, they will figure it out. You can set plans in motion and that's ALL you can do! Good luck!

brideofscowboy · March 2009

I would bring a temp in earlier than a week before your due date. Reason being that you may not necessarily going into labour early, but maybe you'll be put off work early for medical reasons.

I had planned on making Friday the 13th my last day, (2 wks before my due date). My replacement so far has only been working for 1 week, and I noticed the work load lessening for myself despite the fact that I technically had 1 week left with her. To be quite honest, it was quite nice sitting back and letting someone else do the work while I supervised. On Thursday, my doc ended up pulling me from work completely making the 6th my last day due to pre-eclampsia watch. Not as I planned. So now I'm off work a week early, (I get paid mat leave which makes the $$$ issue less of a burden), and being the busy body I am, I thought I would be bored at home...I haven't been so far...I've even been sleeping better.

Every pregnancy is different. What about brining your temp in a few days a week 2 weeks prior to your due date rather than a full 5 day work week?

LadySmith08 · March 2009

I am in the same boat. It is just my boss and I in the office and I do everything for him. We have found my temp and I will be starting to work with her everyday in two weeks. The she will just be on-call till I go into labor. I am also making a very detailed "guide" so that she will have that. I will only be taking 6 weeks off with partial pay, then returning full time. Lucky for me I get to bring my baby to work everyday. Maybe see if your boss would allow you to train early, then you can call the temp when it is time. Good Luck and try not to stress.

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