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Would you change jobs while pregnant?

Mrs. GEKMrs. GEK
in 1st Trimester

My DH finished graduate school last year and got a job in NY.  After a rough 4-5 months of searching due to the lack of jobs and the economy and flying back and forth from FL to NY, I applied for and accepted a job that I don't really like but that allowed me to move to NY to be with DH.  My love is clinical research and a job has finally opened up here.  I applied for it yesterday.  I would love to get back into my field and into a job that I enjoy, but I also want to be able to take time off when the baby comes.  I know that I won't qualify for FMLA if I switch jobs.  

What would you all do?  Do any of you have experience with FMLA?  Do companies typically honor time off even if they aren't required to? 

TIA for your input!     

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Re: Would you change jobs while pregnant?

  • bobbidallbobbidall
    Isn't it the law?  It might be different in every state, but in Cali they must give you the time off. 
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  • anabell0920anabell0920 member

    imagebobbidall:
    Isn't it the law?  It might be different in every state, but in Cali they must give you the time off. 

    yah i thought you have to get time off but it doesn't have to be paid

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  • Mrs. GEKMrs. GEK

    The way I read it (and I could be wrong) is you have to have been employed for a year before you are eligible.

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  • RadicalDreamer143RadicalDreamer143 member
    I relocated due to my DH getting an awesome job offer down south last year - left a great job, great med benefits, career growth etc. I applied for a job pre-pregnancy in May, didn't hear from them till now (August), so I am in the awkward position of accepting a career-path job offer to start work at almost 11wks. Now, when I was at my old job, someone started at the same time as me, and she was 3 months as well, and hid it from EVERYONE till 5 months - this was her second child, and I think she wore an actual girdle to hide it. She annoyed quite a few people since she was due around crunch time (one of two times of year where we needed to produce certain technical publications), but aside from annoying certain coworkers, our boss treated her nicely and fairly, and she came back to a job after three months. I'm just nervous because now I am in that position - though I hope I don't chicken out and wait till 5 months - but I won't have a woman boss. That being said, if you love the work, you could go for it, I'm just letting you know that for me, it's providing me with lots of undue stress since I don't know how to handle it.
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  • RadicalDreamer143RadicalDreamer143 member
    imageMrs. GEK:

    The way I read it (and I could be wrong) is you have to have been employed for a year before you are eligible.

    And yes, this is true. They do not have to hold your job if you haven't been with the company for at least a year.
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  • galwaybabegalwaybabe

    Well, companies that qualify for FMLA are only required to give it to you if you will have been employed there for a year when you take the time.  As in, you should work there for 3 months before getting pg.

    However, some employers that have FMLA also have something called "parental leave," which is essentially FMLA without the federally mandated job security while you are gone.  In Texas, that is required by law for companies large enough to have required FMLA.

    I am in this boat right now.  I switched jobs in June and got pg immediately -- who knew?!  I've talked to my boss and I get 12 weeks unpaid "without job security." They assured me, though, that my job being here for my when I return will only be an issue if I am a major performance problem when I leave (which I am not). 

    Sorry for the long answer; hope this helps.  If it were me, I would risk it to get the job that you love to make you happy.  Happy mom = happy baby!  And I would cross my fingers that the new employers will be gracious about it; mine were and I could not be happier with them right now.

    Good luck!  Hope that helps!

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  • kelcatkelcat
    My understanding is that you have to be employed a year before the have to honor FMLA.  The company may honor your time off for the baby, but because you won't be employed at least a year there is nothing that says they cannot fire while you are out or as soon as you come back.  If you can, stick with your current job.  I'm in a similar situation and have decided to put job hunting on hold until after I have had the baby.
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  • Mrs. GEKMrs. GEK
    imagegalwaybabe:

    Well, companies that qualify for FMLA are only required to give it to you if you will have been employed there for a year when you take the time.  As in, you should work there for 3 months before getting pg.

    However, some employers that have FMLA also have something called "parental leave," which is essentially FMLA without the federally mandated job security while you are gone.  In Texas, that is required by law for companies large enough to have required FMLA.

    I am in this boat right now.  I switched jobs in June and got pg immediately -- who knew?!  I've talked to my boss and I get 12 weeks unpaid "without job security." They assured me, though, that my job being here for my when I return will only be an issue if I am a major performance problem when I leave (which I am not). 

    Sorry for the long answer; hope this helps.  If it were me, I would risk it to get the job that you love to make you happy.  Happy mom = happy baby!  And I would cross my fingers that the new employers will be gracious about it; mine were and I could not be happier with them right now.

    Good luck!  Hope that helps!

    Congrats on your new job!  I totally agree with your statement above, which is why I went ahead and applied for the job.  I need to be happy with what I'm doing and I haven't been in quite a while.  Thanks!

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  • Mrs. GEKMrs. GEK

    imageJamieS2006:
    I relocated due to my DH getting an awesome job offer down south last year - left a great job, great med benefits, career growth etc. I applied for a job pre-pregnancy in May, didn't hear from them till now (August), so I am in the awkward position of accepting a career-path job offer to start work at almost 11wks. Now, when I was at my old job, someone started at the same time as me, and she was 3 months as well, and hid it from EVERYONE till 5 months - this was her second child, and I think she wore an actual girdle to hide it. She annoyed quite a few people since she was due around crunch time (one of two times of year where we needed to produce certain technical publications), but aside from annoying certain coworkers, our boss treated her nicely and fairly, and she came back to a job after three months. I'm just nervous because now I am in that position - though I hope I don't chicken out and wait till 5 months - but I won't have a woman boss. That being said, if you love the work, you could go for it, I'm just letting you know that for me, it's providing me with lots of undue stress since I don't know how to handle it.

    Congrats on getting the job!  I hope that telling your boss goes well.  That's a concern of mine too.

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  • suzalinisuzalini member

    I would say it really depends on the company. No, you wouldn't qualify for FMLA as others have said, but it will depend on the company what kind of leave they would give you. I work in HR for a large public accounting firm, and am lucky enough to have generous paid parental leave that kicks in after one year. But I also get 6 weeks short-term disability before the parental leave/FMLA starts, and I think I only had to be here 3 months for that, so that would be something to look into as well. We also have the discretion to grant additional unpaid time off (as a leave of absense) if someone doesn't qualify for FMLA, with leadership approval.

    So...can you look into their benefits at all? Dream jobs don't come along that often, so I'd do what you can to make it happen, but do your research!

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  • Mrs. GEKMrs. GEK
    imagesuzalini:

    I would say it really depends on the company. No, you wouldn't qualify for FMLA as others have said, but it will depend on the company what kind of leave they would give you. I work in HR for a large public accounting firm, and am lucky enough to have generous paid parental leave that kicks in after one year. But I also get 6 weeks short-term disability before the parental leave/FMLA starts, and I think I only had to be here 3 months for that, so that would be something to look into as well. We also have the discretion to grant additional unpaid time off (as a leave of absense) if someone doesn't qualify for FMLA, with leadership approval.

    So...can you look into their benefits at all? Dream jobs don't come along that often, so I'd do what you can to make it happen, but do your research!

    Good advice!  I haven't gotten on the website to see if they have any HR information on there, but I'm going to do that now. 

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