Teachers-maternity leave

MrsSR · June 2010

I am due Aug 12. Our contract date starts a week or so after that.

When filling out my paperwork for leave, I was told by HR that leave will start the day I deliver, not the start of our contract.

Does this make sense? We don't work in summer, so why do I have to use my sick days for days that NO ONE at the school is working? It doesn't make sense to me at all. We are on vacation!

CoachElle · June 2010

That makes complete sense. I am due July 11th and I wrote my leave to begin on that date.

izzybella · June 2010

At least then you won't be expected at any training over the summer. But you could go a week late, so I wouldn't worry too much about it

TeamReed · June 2010

I understand where you're coming from but my school said the same things. I think the idea is that if you delivery on June 10th (let's say that was graduation) they don't want you to be able to take teh first three months of school off on top of summer...

RitaT22 · June 2010

I agree with you, that does not make sense. You would be losing out on a week of your leave.

SGolden7310 · June 2010

In my district I don't have to use my "sick days" over the summer but I did have to "declare" my maternity leave to them - even though I'm not taking ANY TIME! (we finished school on June 21 and I am planning on going back when we start in Sept). I wanted to try to take 4 weeks at the beginning of Sept. but they said that depending on when I deliver (if I go ON my due date, it's exactly 8 weeks until we start school and 8 weeks is their maternity leave) that I won't be able to take any extra time other than the summer. It sucks, but at least I don't have to use sick time and I still get paid over the summer!

chadandamy · June 2010

Like the previous poster said, you shouldn't have to use your sick days since you aren't missing work days but if your doctor gives you a note that says you need to be "off work" for 6 or 8 weeks it starts from when you have the baby, not when you have work. Your FMLA time can start whenever you want but its unpaid. You should still get a full 12 weeks of that starting from the first day of school.

nicole112709 · June 2010

Maybe it has to do with your contract? DH has a year long contract so he gets paid over the summer months. I would guess if you are still getting a regular paycheck, it doesn't matter if you're technically "working" or not. You are still employed and under contract with the school district.

superace27 · June 2010

Are you really using sick days before the contracted start date? That doesn't seem right. I start using sick days our first contract day, but my 6-8 weeks that I can be paid for (using sick days) starts with the day I deliver.

That's one more reason why I would be okay with LO being a week or so late!

mbyoung · June 2010

Wow! I guess I am really lucky because I don't have to start using my maternity leave, which will be my sick days, until school starts. I just assumed that is the way all schools were, but I guess I was wrong.

blurrystar4 · June 2010

I am a teacher and my due date is Aug. 3 and they are starting my maternity leave on the day our contract begins again for the school year, Aug. 16.

And that is b/c, just like you say, we aren't on "contract" in the summer and not getting paid, so they can't start a maternity leave for our vacation. I do have to use up all my sick days for full pay at the beginning of my maternity leave, but then it kicks in for the remaining 6 or 8 weeks (depending on a vaginal or c-section birth)....

CamFam · June 2010

You should not be using sick leave, you would probably just get maternity leave without pay. I am due July 20 and was told my leave begins the day of birth for 6 weeks (or 8 for c/s). This would put me at August 30 for the end of my leave, so I will not be getting any pay. I chose to take an additional 6 weeks through FMLA, unpaid.

Major bummer that we get cut from paid maternity leave just because our babies come during summer, but that's how the system works. My union president and benefits contact said, "teachers do not get paid during summer, why should you just because you have a baby?" Nice.

JenOSU · June 2010

My leave also starts the day that I deliver. It stinks, but apparently that is how our contract is negotiated. The only perk they explained to me is that the days at the end of summer break will not cost me sick days. I am very determined to keep my baby in until the bitter end! If she comes when she is due I'll only "lose" one week of leave.

mwamboldt · June 2010

I agree with you, you should NOT have to use your sick days for non-student contact days. If you had the stomach flu or broke your foot and had to lay low for a couple days/weeks you wouldn't be using your sick days over summer vacation....

In my district I am able to take my leave within 1 year after the birth of my child. I am due in 7 days and my leave starts 9/2 and I go back to work 12/3! I just assumed that is how other districts worked as well.

Is there someone else that you can contact to ask? I would dig into this one! Good luck!

MrsSteelerTeacherLady · June 2010

My leave begins the first day of school- that's not right that you have to fill it out. Maybe they are unpaid days and just following FMLA? I'm not sure, but I'm due August 11th, our first day is the 16th and that's when I take my first sick day. You technically aren't in contract then, are you a member of NEA or AFT? You may want to call them.

joakin · June 2010

That sounds strange. I'm due in a couple of weeks, but my leave won't begin until the last week of August when the teacher contract begins for the next school year.

That said, I also don't qualify for any paid time off (short term disability) b/c of the summer birth. I am still taking my 12 weeks under FMLA though.

jackieb3858 · June 2010

I bet your leave time starts the day you deliver but you probably don't use your sick days for those days. You would just get however many weeks you get minus the days before school starts. However, with FMLA you could have 12 weeks starting when school starts, it's just unpaid.

Ardmhs83 · June 2010

My due date is August 18th and that is the first day back to school for teachers in my county. If I go early then my "sick days/maternity leave" will start on August 18th. No matter how early I go...even 2-3 weeks before that. If August 17th rolls around and I am still pregnant I am going into work on the 18th so that I dont' have to waste any sick days if the baby is not born. Then my days will start whenever the baby comes at that point in time. I plan on not going back to work until sometime in November. We don't get actual matenity leave though...we have to use all of our own sick days and personal days. However many you have saved up from not using them throughout the years is how many you have to work with. Next year is my 4th year teaching and I have like 50 some days built up. :-)

SallyCampos22 · June 2010

Yup, unfortunately this is how most districts do it. Your leave starts on the day you deliver, because that's when your 6 week required "recovery time" would start. So if you go in the summer, that's when your recovery time begins, even if school is not in session. At our district you can still take an additional 6 weeks off when the school year starts up again, but it's unpaid.

SallyCampos22 · June 2010

Although I should add, I can't use my sick days over the summer if he comes early. My leave just starts early.

Ms.Beachbum08 · June 2010

I am in the same boat. My maternity leave starts the day that I give birth even though we are not working during the summer. In addition, they are taking sick days for days that I am not working. I have tried fighting it, but what I am told is that this is how it is in every other profession.

hasenbank · June 2010

I'm due Aug 5 and our first contract day is Aug 12. I was peeved when I was told the same thing, especially since our kids don't start until the 17th. I understand that's when my contract begins, but I find it ridiculous that I have to use sick days when students aren't even in school and they wouldn't even have to pay a sub. While understand the logistics (yes, I'm on contract) I can't say it didn't piss me off. Now that being said, I'm assuming you wouldn't actually have to use any sick days until the day contract starts, but your FMLA will kick in as soon as you deliver. That's how it is with me.

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