Maternity Leave transition....

tulips12_30 · September 2010

Hi ladies...quick question about FML. I will be taking my full 12 weeks; however, it has been suggested to me that maybe I take the first 8 weeks off and then come back part time for the last four. I'm thinking that it may be a better transition for both baby and mommy instead of jumping back into full time right away...What do you think? TIA!

EastCoastBride · September 2010

Personally, I wouldn't. I LOVED having all that time off to spend w/ DS. I didn't feel the need to "transition".

BUT, what I would advise - make your first day Wed or Thurs. Don't go back on a Monday where you'll have a full week of work.

EastCoastBride · September 2010

Also, if you're covered by FMLA, legally - you aren't supposed to work at all while on leave.

tulips12_30 · September 2010

EastCoastBride:
Also, if you're covered by FMLA, legally - you aren't supposed to work at all while on leave.

Huh...I was not aware of that as the Personnel Director even asked me if I was doing this. I did take partial FML (intermittent absence) during my IVF cycles and had no problem? There may be a difference between the State and Fed regulations?

madhatter2003 · September 2010

I would do 10 or 11 weeks off fully and transition back in just a week or 2. I don't think you need 4 weeks of transition.

Taking leave intermittent is by company approval. Short term disability is different in that you can't (usually) work while getting disability payments, but FMLA can be used hourly at my company. Same as what you had it sounds like for IVF treamtments....I know I discussed with when I was seeing my RE as well.

EastCoastBride · September 2010

You may be able to do intermittent if you want. It's just more paperwork!

In the end you have to do what feels is right for you. I jsut know I REALLY liked the full 12 weeks off and being able to focus on my new life as a mom. I wouldn't ahve wanted to start thinking about work after 8 weeks.

tulips12_30 · September 2010

mbenit4:
EastCoastBride:

Personally, I wouldn't. I LOVED having all that time off to spend w/ DS. I didn't feel the need to "transition".

BUT, what I would advise - make your first day Wed or Thurs. Don't go back on a Monday where you'll have a full week of work.

This.

Screw the half day mess. Just don't start on a Monday. JMO.

This seems to be the majority opinion! I think I'll take the advice of the experienced mama's and just take my full time to spend with my little guy.

EastCoastBride · September 2010

tulips12_30:

This seems to be the majority opinion! I think I'll take the advice of the experienced mama's and just take my full time to spend with my little guy.

The other thing to remember- this is a once in a lifetime shot. He'll only be a newborn once and you'll only have a chance to spend those first 3 months home w/ him once.

Work will always be there!

TColeman · September 2010

I wouldn't go back early, I wish I could take more than my 12 weeks. I am assuming I wouldn't need any sort of transition, I want every day possible to stay with my LO. Like pp said, work will always be there.

h2babe · September 2010

I'm taking the first 10-wks off, then intermitten/PT for the next 5-6 weeks. A lot of my friends have gone this route, and they loved it. I am still at home, but I'm going back to work in another week, so I honestly don't know yet how it would work out. The thoughts that I would not have to work 40 hrs right away gives me a little comfort.

frschaffner · September 2010

I didn't do FMLA, but I took 10 weeks off full-time, then 5 (was supposed to be 4 but we had issues with daycare) weeks part-time, working Mon afternoons, and all day Tues and Thurs. I loved it. It gave me time to get back in the swing of things and still have time with DD before I had to go back full-time. If I could do that permanently, I would.

beenbizzy · September 2010

I responded on your re-post on 2nd Tri. but had a couple more thoughts since reading thie replies.

Definitely return at the END of a work week.

I did return PT using up my FMLA and I did it whole days because of the commute. I think it would have been a mess if it had just been partial days. Baby's schedule would have been all wacky!

KarBear · September 2010

madhatter2003:
I would do 10 or 11 weeks off fully and transition back in just a week or 2. I don't think you need 4 weeks of transition.
Taking leave intermittent is by company approval. Short term disability is different in that you can't (usually) work while getting disability payments, but FMLA can be used hourly at my company. Same as what you had it sounds like for IVF treamtments....I know I discussed with when I was seeing my RE as well.

This. You won't need a month to get back into it, and frankly, you'll want all the time you can get.

ASmallWonder · September 2010

Like the others have said, I wouldn't go back early. Also, you don't have to take your 12 weeks all at once. Theoretically you could take off one week a month for a year for a medical appointment and it would be covered under FMLA. You just have to make sure HR does the paperwork correctly.

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