lets talk fmla

KellyOsu23 · October 2009

I know its way early...

But my company has an awful sick leave policy. In fact I have already used my leave for this yr for various reasons (its all hrs based not sick leave or etc.) So apparently I have none until the end of the yr.

This will be unrealistic if morning sickness comes into affect so I will have to use FMLA if that happens.

I suppose I just have my DR fill out the paperwork saying can take X amount of days off per month or as needed?

Luckily they have an excellent maternity leave of 3 months paid and 3 months at 70% so I cant complain once I have the kid.

krstokes · October 2009

My job did not allow FMLA until the child was born. It was considered STD if you had to use days before.

KellyOsu23 · October 2009

hmm interesting.. I would assume they would allow it. I mean they allow it if you goto the chiro for 4 days per month so I would think they would allow this but I havent asked... I wasnt here a yr with DD so I didnt get to take advantage of anything.

fisha25 · October 2009

if you fill out FMLA paper work yes you get leave before the baby is born for things like morning sickness. You can take it as needed you don;t have to go out for a certain number of days. ANd you NEVER have to say why they are not allowed to question you. all you have to say is your using FMLA. Morning sickness is considered a chronic illiness so it is included though as a reason to be out for the day.

nursemegan23 · October 2009

My job allows 12 weeks a year for FMLA after working for the company for a year. I talked with my employer and am allowed to take FMLA for sickness, doctors appointments and what not due to being pregnant. So I went ahead since the FMLA is suppose to start the day you found out your pregnant.

KellyOsu23 · October 2009

Sounds good. I knew you ladies would know!

Did you have your Dr sign something or take it up with employer and fill out paperwork?

Its a really large company so its not like it will be a big deal its all just a process I am just trying to get a heads up since I work nights I will have to come up here to meet with HR for paperwork.

nursemegan23 · October 2009

I went and got the FMLA papers then took them to the doctor because he has to sign and fill out pretty much the entire Packet of papers (4 in my FMLA) then you give them back to your employer and they put them in, or whatever, and tada!

Smile

I don't know if every company works this way though. But thats what I had to do for my FMLA. My boyfriend also works for the same company but since we aren't married he can't get FMLA until after the baby is born.

KellyOsu23 · October 2009

Ok great!

Yah DH doesnt get FMLA not a big enough company, he has to take his PTO

so I am lucky to have this benefit this time as last time it was just taking PTO for every appt/sick day.

Thanks ladies I will check next week

fisha25 · October 2009

nursemegan23:

I went and got the FMLA papers then took them to the doctor because he has to sign and fill out pretty much the entire Packet of papers (4 in my FMLA) then you give them back to your employer and they put them in, or whatever, and tada!

I don't know if every company works this way though. But thats what I had to do for my FMLA. My boyfriend also works for the same company but since we aren't married he can't get FMLA until after the baby is born.

Yes this, i have to take fmla from everything from 2 births to car accidents you just tell you employer you need fmla paperwork they will give it to you and you take it to your dr. they will fill it out and then you take it back. you only get 12 weeks per year though so if you take time before the baby it's less time you can take after so be careful.

Also like i said it's only 12 weeks so becareful cause i had my DD then a couple months later got into a very bad car accident but because i had taken so much time for the baby i only had two weeks left to use for the acciedent so try to leave your self a little time just in case.

fisha25 · October 2009

sorry i didn't check my spelling at all in that last post.

nursemegan23 · October 2009

fisha25:
nursemegan23:

I went and got the FMLA papers then took them to the doctor because he has to sign and fill out pretty much the entire Packet of papers (4 in my FMLA) then you give them back to your employer and they put them in, or whatever, and tada!

I don't know if every company works this way though. But thats what I had to do for my FMLA. My boyfriend also works for the same company but since we aren't married he can't get FMLA until after the baby is born.

this, i have to take fmla from everything from 2 births to car accidents you just tell you employer you need fmla paperwork they will give it to you and you take it to your dr. they will fill it out and then you take it back. you only get 12 weeks per year though so if you take time before the baby it's less time you can take after so be careful.

Also like i said it's only 12 weeks so becareful cause i had my DD then a couple months later got into a very bad car accident but because i had taken so much time for the baby i only had two weeks left to use for the acciedent so try to leave your self a little time just in case.

So you got to use FMLA for maternity leave. I'm not sure if our company will allow me to do that our not. I know we get 6 weeks maternity leave (I work for the state) but have to use our own vacation time, holiday time, or sick leave in order to get paid. It would be amazing if our FMLA could be used for the maternity leave. I will definitely ask when I go to turn in my FMLA papers. Thanks for making me think of this!

Smile

nursemegan23 · October 2009

Nevermind to my above post....lol I just read up on it. Yeah, I feel stupid now.

I'm blaming my pregnancy brain! *and lack of sleep*--gotta love insomnia!

snickybugg · October 2009

My question is...isn't morning sickness considered something out of our hands? "Gods doing"? So I think if you got a note from your doctor you can get ouf of work. I don't know much about FMLA myself. I do know that my work is HORRIBLE when it comes to giving time off for anything. A co-worker (who actually quit a few weeks ago) was pregnant and had a horrible time with swelling, backaches, headaches towards the last 4wks of the pregnancy. Our boss told her to LITERALLY suck it up. The co-worker ended up going to her doctor and telling her the situation and she wrote her a note to excuse her for awhile. She then came back and left again a week later to have the baby. She told the boss she would come back PART TIME but wanted to be with her baby so full time was out of the question. When the time came for her to come back part time our boss said she needed to come back full time or she would let her go. The co-worker then quit and found a new job at a Daycare Center where she can bring her daughter with her everyday.

Now, I'm pregnancy and I'm terrified of telling her! I have already asked for 2 days off next month (part days) so I can get blood work done and get my first U/S. I hadn't planned on telling her till the first U/S but I'm sure she will figure it out for herself. I want to ask her if I can work at home after the birth but I'm sure she will say no or have some sort of excuse. Even though her and I discussed working at home when I first started there in January (of this year). We will see.

Good luck and congrats.

jlthompson19 · October 2009

I'm confused. I'll admit I don't know much about FMLA b/c i've never had to "use" it, but what is all the paperwork for? Do you get paid or is just so you can be off? You have to fill out paperwork b/c you're sick? I don't get that.

georgia_peachy · October 2009

jlthompson19:
I'm confused. I'll admit I don't know much about FMLA b/c i've never had to "use" it, but what is all the paperwork for? Do you get paid or is just so you can be off? You have to fill out paperwork b/c you're sick? I don't get that.

FMLA is not paid unless your job wants to pay it. Basically if you work for a ocmpany with a certain # of employees or greater (not sure of the exact number, I'm thinking more than 10 but less than 15?) and have worked there for 12 months or 1250 hours then you get 12 weeks away from your job. They can't fire you or demote you because you were sick/injured/with your child etc. There are 5 different types. the types you'll be most interested in are Part A (for birth parent to care for his/her newborn) or Part D (employee's serious health condition as defined by FMLA - post-partum recovery and prenatal issues go here).

It doesn't mean they have to pay you. it doesn't mean you get your exact job back, just an equivilant one. Some places are nice and expand upon this, but they aren't required to do so by law.

jlthompson19 · October 2009

georgia_peachy:

jlthompson19:
I'm confused. I'll admit I don't know much about FMLA b/c i've never had to "use" it, but what is all the paperwork for? Do you get paid or is just so you can be off? You have to fill out paperwork b/c you're sick? I don't get that.

FMLA is not paid unless your job wants to pay it. Basically if you work for a ocmpany with a certain # of employees or greater (not sure of the exact number, I'm thinking more than 10 but less than 15?) and have worked there for 12 months or 1250 hours then you get 12 weeks away from your job. They can't fire you or demote you because you were sick/injured/with your child etc. There are 5 different types. the types you'll be most interested in are Part A (for birth parent to care for his/her newborn) or Part D (employee's serious health condition as defined by FMLA - post-partum recovery and prenatal issues go here).

It doesn't mean they have to pay you. it doesn't mean you get your exact job back, just an equivilant one. Some places are nice and expand upon this, but they aren't required to do so by law.

Thanks. I guess I'm lucky b/c I can pretty much do what I want around here and no one questions it. My boss would never dream of making me fill out paperwork to go to a doctor's appt or b/c I was throwing up and felt like going home.

georgia_peachy · October 2009

Yeah I'm lucky too because my office takes it WAY beyond that, but DH company is huge and they're pretty strict about it, especially for the non-salaried people.

Mainer-in-Texas · October 2009

I just wanted to add that I am taking FMLA for doctor's appointments and morning sickness. It's called intermittent FMLA, and, at my job, I can take sick time, vacation time, or unpaid leave. My doctor's office filled out paper work indicating that I am unable to perform my job duties when I am not feeling well or have a doctor's appointments.

fisha25 · October 2009

Mainer-in-Texas:
I just wanted to add that I am taking FMLA for doctor's appointments and morning sickness. It's called intermittent FMLA, and, at my job, I can take sick time, vacation time, or unpaid leave. My doctor's office filled out paper work indicating that I am unable to perform my job duties when I am not feeling well or have a doctor's appointments.

Yes and yes for anyone still checking the post you must have worked at the company for atleast one year with 1250hrs. you must have so many workers at your company as well. Now, the federal goverment does not make your employer pay you. FMLA is unpaid unless your company rocks and chooses otherwise. but you should be able to call in using FMLA and if you do have sick time or vaction time to use it to get paid.

Also ladies if your going to breast feed check your state laws DO IT! here in new mexico my company HAS to give me a private clean non-bathroom place to pump for my child AND they have to give me extra time to do so . But the extra time is also unpaid. If you have ever pumped and breastfeed you know you have to empty your breasts and my 15min payed break it not enough to do so. If you don't empty it can lower your milk supply and you may not be able to only breastfeed if that happens so i take a 15min paid breaks and then 10 minutes unpaid. I'm hourly i just clock in out for the unpaid time and stay late. Clearly my boss and i have talked about it. So check you state laws they have them for a reason i don't eat my lunch in a bathroom i'm not pumping my Lo's for there either.

Want a personalized experience?

lets talk fmla

Re: lets talk fmla

Choose Another Board

Search Boards