Maternity Leave - Working Moms (LONG)

erinkate23 · January 2010

It finally hit my boss. Today, he finally realized that I'm going on maternity leave, and what that means. The look of panic was priceless...... and went from there into "how much time are you going to take?" followed by "I mean, you take what you need....."

I'm really struggling with the answer. I'm the only me at my company, I'm the only female member of senior management, and it's really going to be tough on everyone when I'm out. There's really no one person who can take on my job; my blackberry usually rings 24/7, and divvying up my responsibilities has been a nightmare. I can't work from home (CEO's weird policy, we tried). I'm freaked out that everything is going to fall apart without me; I've worked very hard to get my departments to where they are now!

By the same token, I want to give my baby as much time and undevided attention as he and I both need. I don't want to rush back, or feel obligated to rush back.

I ended up telling my boss that I was taking at least 6-8 weeks, and maybe as much as 13 weeks (which I get by law) but there is no way to know until then.

How much maternity leave are you going to take? Do you feel weird about it? Anyone freaking about it?

ibis · January 2010

I'm self-employed and trying to take 8 weeks depending on how our savings hold up. I really would like to take longer but it wouldn't be financially smart. I'm already getting clients lining up jobs for when I come back, which should make me happy, but it just stresses me out and feels like pressure, so I can relate to what you're saying about feeling rushed. I don't really know how I'm going to manage... I really want to just cocoon myself in the house with the baby and not take any phone calls, but I feel like I need to be available so my clients don't go elsewhere.

labbie1821 · January 2010

I just recently switched school districts and therefore am not entitled to the maternity leave through the state (you have to be with your employer for 1 year). However, my district OK'd the 10 weeks I plan on taking, but I'm hoping I go early since my maternity sub could just cover me early. I cannot extend my leave, but they can't do anything if I go a week or two early!!! Crossing fingers!!!

P.S. I teach Special Ed, and I am very worried about my students but I know they will do well either way. My job is to be a Mom, and that was told to me today by my principal ( I love him!)

Good Luck~

jen10282006 · January 2010

I'm taking 16 weeks. To some that's alot, to other's it's not long enough. Lucky for me I've worked there for 14 years, and have time built up so it will all be paid. I feel lousy for leaving my work to my co-workers, but they way I see it, is that they have all had their leaves over the past years where I carried their loads, It's my time! I decided my baby was worth more to me than the job, so I need to take this time off to be with him! Good luck on your decision, whatever you decide will be right for you.....

ashley0616 · January 2010

At my old job with DD1 I was the only me as well. No one could do my job like I could (from what I hear, my replacement can't either...but that's another story). I took 6 weeks because I felt pressured to come back even tho I had planned on 8 full weeks. I could have taken the extra two weeks of course, but I was healed and everything so I agreed to come back after 6. If I were coming back to work with this pregnancy, I would take the 8 for sure, work be damned.

KelleyBean · January 2010

I'm hoping to take 12 weeks but I'm not sure how supportive my boss will be about it. She came back to work 4 weeks after she had both kids. Le sigh.

lil_rhody · January 2010

I plan to take my 6-8 weeks of STD and then up to 13 of vacaton / FMLA.

Do you work in MA or RI? If you plan to use RI STD, you should know that if they find you working, they will get you for disability abuse. I know, I know, it's stupid because we're not really disabled, but I found this out at work today.

crysbena · January 2010

I'm taking 1 week before my due date vacation and then 10 weeks FMLA. I get 12 wks so I'm stretching the 2 weeks into 4 weeks and going into work part time starting at 10 weeks. Can you go back early on a part time basis?

erinkate23 · January 2010

lil_rhody:

I plan to take my 6-8 weeks of STD and then up to 13 of vacaton / FMLA.

Do you work in MA or RI? If you plan to use RI STD, you should know that if they find you working, they will get you for disability abuse. I know, I know, it's stupid because we're not really disabled, but I found this out at work today.

I won't take TDI while working. No fear there. You only get 6-8 weeks in RI? I thought we got the full 13 weeks.

babydragonsister · January 2010

I was freaking out about this at 28 weeks also...I am the executive director of a company and EVERYTHING comes back down to me...I'm planning on taking 12 weeks, and I had no idea how I was going to cover. I think I have everything all set now, so maybe my solution will help you?

1. First I re-vamped my job description to really reflect what I do and divided things into logical categories (staff support / financial responsbilities / operations, etc.).

2. I figured out what could be delegated to the people offering to help out. I met with each person to describe what needed to be done and be sure they were comfortable with adding that responsibility.

3. We hired someone part-time to oversee my position...The interim person is taking on the responsibilities that could not be delegated, and then is overseeing the people who are taking on extra responsibilities. Basically, he is making sure that my job gets done somehow, whether someone else is doing it or he ends up doing it. He is going to work half-time (20 hrs / wk) and we worked out a financial incentive for him based on how the company does while I'm gone....

4. He shadowed me full-time for a week and he and I will have a set touch-base phone call every week so I'm not bombarded with calls and I get all of the questions at once. (And he doesn't feel abadoned!)

My maternity leave is unpaid and since he's part-time he won't get benefits, so this works financially for the company. And rather than my position just being empty, at least there will be a point-person to communicate with me and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

After freaking out for months, I feel like this is under control and might actually work....Hope this helps you!

lil_rhody · January 2010

erinkate23:
lil_rhody:

I plan to take my 6-8 weeks of STD and then up to 13 of vacaton / FMLA.

Do you work in MA or RI? If you plan to use RI STD, you should know that if they find you working, they will get you for disability abuse. I know, I know, it's stupid because we're not really disabled, but I found this out at work today.

I won't take TDI while working. No fear there. You only get 6-8 weeks in RI? I thought we got the full 13 weeks.

You only get the 6-8 weeks of TDI. You can take up to 13 weeks under FMLA, but anything past the 6-8 weeks is unpaid.

audrey10607 · January 2010

I get a max of 16 weeks and personally I don't give a rats A about whether or not my dept can get along with or without me.

I'm hoping that I can find a new job while on leave hahaha.

That being said, I think you should plan for the most, and if you return earlier no biggie..better than planning on 6 weeks, but needing 12.

aandg · January 2010

My last day off work will be February 12 and I will go back to work when the new school year starts, July 30.

I do feel a little guilty. I teach severly handicapped special education and I have my students for 3 years. I'm bummed that I won't get to see the 8th graders that I've worked so hard with "graduate" from middle school. I do have a good sub coming in, so not too terribly worried about their goals being met, etc.

I love my students, but this little guy is way more important.

sawyer918 · January 2010

audrey10607:

I get a max of 16 weeks and personally I don't give a rats A about whether or not my dept can get along with or without me.

I'm hoping that I can find a new job while on leave hahaha.

That being said, I think you should plan for the most, and if you return earlier no biggie..better than planning on 6 weeks, but needing 12.

Hahahaha.....I agree! I am taking 12 weeks paid, and I don't care what happens when I am gone b/c that is it for me at my current job! Horray.

LC0479 · January 2010

audrey10607:

I get a max of 16 weeks and personally I don't give a rats A about whether or not my dept can get along with or without me.

I'm hoping that I can find a new job while on leave hahaha.

That being said, I think you should plan for the most, and if you return earlier no biggie..better than planning on 6 weeks, but needing 12.

Hahah this is me, exactly!

nicobean1 · January 2010

I have 8.5 of paid leave (including vacation and floating holidays), and I can take up to 16. I'd like to take somewhere around 12-14, if we can swing it financially. I'm squirreling away my extra money to buy myself the extra 4-6 weeks (I figure if I can cover my salary, I can take the time off).

erinkate23 · January 2010

I guess I sort of am a weird one... I *love* my job. I'm a semi workaholic; I just got home from work and it's 9pm. I don't plan to work like this when the baby's born - but where a lot of people look forward to leaving work, I'm sort of dreading it.

I am absolutely looking forward to time with my son! Just.... I'll miss work. I know, crazy. And I am really worried about what will happen when I'm gone. It might even be hard for me to just put the blackberry away.

On an amusing note, my company provides internet service to the my hospital and the engineers have joked that they'll run a fiber line to my room during labor. I told them I would be terrified of a hidden camera!

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