Maternity leave question for Working Moms???

lady_knowledge · October 2010

How long are you taking off from work after baby is born?

I plan on starting my maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date. My job is driving my nuts, they keep asking me when am I coming back to work and I answer "I'll let you know once I have the baby". My goal is to stay out for 4 months or at least until baby can hold it's head up since it will either be in daycare or with my mom.

t.bird · October 2010

well, in my state & where i work, you need to give a return date.

i'll be taking 14 weeks of leave in all.

mjbaby · October 2010

wow - you get some sweet maternity leave. I only get 12 weeks max, some paid, some not...so I'm not stopping until I go into labor. Then I will only get 3 months max. I think it's fair to let your employer know an estimated date so that they aren't in the lurch. Enjoy your time off!

kpmd1 · October 2010

I do not get any paid maternity leave, as I work for a small business and FMLA does not apply. I am planning to work until I go into labor and then take 8 weeks off.

ZoeyMarie · October 2010

I'm working up until D Day or the end of the month--whichever is first. I then get 16 weeks maternity leave.

missesru · October 2010

I'm due Dec 29th. My company shuts down for the week after Christmas, so I'm hoping to be able to stay on until Dec 24th and then leave for the rest of the year. I'll then take 12 months maternity/parental leave and be back in January 2012.

LolliLately · October 2010

Open ended leave? Can I work where you work? Before birth, I only get leave if my doctor writes me out. After birth, I get 6 weeks paid and will take an additional 2 unpaid. I could take 4 more unpaid, but I like to pay my bills.

It is customary (and polite) to give a return date. How would you feel if you had to pick up the slack for a coworker who was coming back "whenever"?

Arielle27 · October 2010

I am going to work until at least 39 weeks, but here (in Israel) we get 14 weeks paid maternity leave and can then take up to a year off (even that is flexible, depending on where you work and how long you've been there).

I plan to take about 6 months, give or take, depending on how I feel and what our finances are like. Luckily, my company is quite flexible about my terms of return (when I return, if I return full time or slightly less-than, etc.), and I don't have to give them an iron-clad answer now.

chewbecca · October 2010

lady_knowledge:

How long are you taking off from work after baby is born?

I plan on starting my maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date. My job is driving my nuts, they keep asking me when am I coming back to work and I answer "I'll let you know once I have the baby". My goal is to stay out for 4 months or at least until baby can hold it's head up since it will either be in daycare or with my mom.

To answer your question, I'm taking 10 weeks from the date of my C-Section. I'd like to take longer, but financially, DH & I can't make that happen.

As for the leave, I just finished all the paperwork with my employer, so I have a lot of this fresh in my mind. Here's what I know:

Regarding FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) - the law is regulated by the Department of Labor (a Federal Agency), so the benefit should be the same state to state. All the law says is that you - as an employee - are entitled to up to 12 weeks unpaid leave, without fear of losing your job, for certain family or medical situations. That being said - some employers will work with you if you choose to be gone longer than the alloted 12 weeks. A friend of mine delivered in July and took a little over 4 months off with no problems from our employer; but she was up front with them the entire time.

I guess how to handle the question really depends on who's asking. If it's co-workers, then it's really none of their business. But, if it's management or HR, I would be as cooperative as possible...especially since you're asking them to grant you extra time away. If you can't specify an exact date, maybe you can give them a ballpark date and tell them you'll keep them posted?

Marinewife81 · October 2010

I'm planning on having my doctor write me out on Thursday, but I was originally intending to be done on Oct 28th. I'll be gone for sure the 6 weeks of FMLA that I get paid for and may take a couple more weeks of sick time after that, depending on finances.

Sonadora · October 2010

I'm taking just shy of 6 months, using up the PTO I've been saving for the last 4+ years. My work doesn't offer paid maternity leave beyond what you have banked from your alloted PTO. You can take 12 weeks unpaid under FMLA, but I'm hoping to avoid that. I'm not going to stop working until I go in to labor.

insertclevername · October 2010

I will be working up to my due date and then taking 12 weeks off. The paperwork that I had to complete for my job required that I supply an estimated return date. That being said there is an option to extend the leave if you decide not to return on the date that was originally stated. You should check to see if that is an option.

Jaimers375 · October 2010

You should have a plan as to when you're coming back, it's the professional thing to do. My company gives us 2 weeks before our EDD and I'm taking an additional 14 weeks after baby is born. I had to give them my plan in writing. Your answer to them, honestly, is pretty rude.

gimlingal · October 2010

kpmd1:
I do not get any paid maternity leave, as I work for a small business and FMLA does not apply. I am planning to work until I go into labor and then take 8 weeks off.

Does your state not offer short term disability while on maternity leave?

gimlingal · October 2010

With my company and short term state disability I can take 8 weeks maternity leave at 100% pay, and 75% pay after that while my dr. still has be on disability. I will take 4 weeks before the baby is born (in CA this time is offered and is use it or lose it) and the standard 6 weeks after LO is born... so I will get 100% pay for 8 weeks and 75% pay for the additional 2 weeks. I gave work an estimated due back date of 10-12 weeks total (in case of C-Section) however, state disability will allow me to take more time after the dr. clears me if needed so I might extend it a little. This would only be at 55% pay though...

n0legirl · October 2010

kpmd1:
I do not get any paid maternity leave, as I work for a small business and FMLA does not apply. I am planning to work until I go into labor and then take 8 weeks off.

This exactly.

erind0213 · October 2010

I put in my letter last week.

I will be taking 12 weeks, and will not go out until LO arrives.

Penguin81 · October 2010

I will be working up until the week before I deliver, and then have six weeks off before I'm back at it again.

elizabeth6258 · October 2010

I will be taking 17 weeks total. 5 before she comes due to doctor's orders and 12 after her scheduled birth. The 12 will consist of disability, paternal leave (a work benefit) and vacation. I just want he to be a little bigger before I leave her in day care

jayellekay · October 2010

I am taking 12 weeks (max allowed by FMLA; my company frowns upon more unless there are special circumstances, like a baby with special needs, etc.). I will have approximately 130 hours saved up between sick leave and vacation time. I'm going to turn in 10 hours a week to be paid, which will cover my benefits and short-term disability premiums, plus a little (like, ~$100) in the bank. I have Aflac short-term disability, and they pay a majority of my pay for 6-8 weeks, depending upon how long I can convince my doctor to keep me from being released to be able to work. Aflac will also pay a set fee for being in the hospital x number of days, delivering vaginally or Cesarean (more $$, though that's the only benefit to a c-section!), and if the baby had to go to the NICU, or I had to go on bedrest, they also pay extra for that. I'll still be "short" my normal pay when all is said and done, but every little bit helps.

PunkyBooster · October 2010

14 weeks. I also drafted a proposal for my boss to review and approve flexible schedule for an additional 6 weeks, though I will be taking 100% of my work back on the date of return.

And HR requires a return date. Obviously it is understood that you do not know when you will start your leave (when you go into labor) and when you will return based on that leave. That is why you put "approximately" on the LOA form.

It's understood that it is flexible around the date your baby comes. You would get the serious side eye from our VPs and Sr VPs if you were being this evasive about a return date. Tell them you would like to take 4 months, draft the proposal showing your PTO or FMLA laws and say that your EDD is x date and you hope to return on y date.

LadyB01 · October 2010

I'll be taking a full 12 months. I'll be leaving 2 weeks before my due date.

FirstBabyMomma · October 2010

bchenier:
I'll be taking a full 12 months. I'll be leaving 2 weeks before my due date.

Shhh....don't tell them about our sweet maternity leave in Canada or everyone will come here! (Kidding, kidding! We'd love to have you!)

Today was my last day (WOOT!) but my doctor had to write me a note. I will go back for the beginning of the next school year (so, early September 2011) and DH will take my remaining weeks of leave at that point. I could stay off for a full year, but coming back in September just makes more sense.

hollyberrie05 · October 2010

I'll be taking the full 12 weeks allowed by FMLA, but unpaid as I have no pto left after being hospitalized twice earlier in pregnancy and my company doesn't offer short/long term disability. My edd is 12/19, but I told my employer I will be working up to Christmas unless I go into labor beforehand. I have to take 12 weeks because the daycare we found doesn't accept infants under 3 months.

MaddysMama07 · October 2010

Between 8 and 10 weeks. I'm not sure yet. I've told work 10 but can call at anytime and say I want/need to come back.

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