another leave question

megs71660 · December 2012

I am curious how people are getting more leave time? I have FEMLA, which gives me 12 weeks, but I have heard of people taking more time - even up to 6 months. I have had to be on bed rest a couple of times - so now I am down to 10 weeks left. Is there something I don't know about getting more leave? Is it just a company policy? I don't think that I am going to be ready to leave my LO after ten weeks. Sigh.

tdoyen · December 2012

I am using stored sick and vacation days and not taking FMLA since FMLA is unpaid. I could extend my leave with FMLA but I have no desire to go into upaid status.

mben1119 · December 2012

People who are usually able to take longer than FMLA protects have cushy jobs or live outside of the US. FTR, I took 10 weeks (I couldn't afford to take 12) and DS and I adjusted just fine to life away from each other. I was so ready to get out of the house and to not be in yoga pants anymore.

sensoregurl · December 2012

My contract provides for 6 months, up to a year with approval. You can extend your leave by taking any vacation/sick time after FMLA. You can also just talk to your supervisor about continuing to take 12 weeks if they're ok with it.

Charlotte02 · December 2012

Most of those will be leave of absence. Unpaid time off, probably per company policy. As a school bus driver I left work for 7-8 months. I didn't work summer and I was on and off bed rest the last three months of pregnancy. I took 3 months off after my son was born. My company took me back after, it was unpaid of course. I also lost my route but that was expected. You would have to talk to who ever employs you and find out if a longer leave would compromise the position you are in and if you are willing to do that to stay home a bit longer.

caladpi02 · December 2012

My company's policy is 6 months, but it is up to each department if they pay into state disability or you have to use vacation/sick time to cover it. My dept does not pay into state disability. I am very lucky in that I have been hoarding vacation and sick time and have enough time to cover a full six months off. Most people in my dept take a month unpaid.

California gives you 4 months of pregnancy disability and you can apply for 12 more weeks under the Family Rights act on top of that (I do not know a ton about these laws as my co has a great policy in place). Most people I know of get/got at least 4 months, some paid, some unpaid, and many employers offer 6 months. Usually if it was paid, it was at 55% under state disability.

SittinUnderAPalmTree · December 2012

I am a teacher and as per our contract, I can use up to 40 of my own stored sick days (we don't get vacation time as it is built into the school year). I used 40 with DD two years ago, so this time I am using 30 that I have saved up. Within those 30 days is a week of vacation (Winter Break in February), so I am technically getting 7 weeks completely paid. After that, I am taking 6 weeks partially paid (2/3 of your salary or $530, whichever is higher) through the NJFLA (not sure if other states offer a program like this). Then, I am taking 3 weeks completely unpaid through FMLA. I will return to work with about 7 weeks left to the school year and then be off for the summer. I am going back to get a few paychecks and so that I don't lose my health insurance. All in all, I will be off for 16 weeks.

SittinUnderAPalmTree · December 2012

SittinUnderAPalmTree:
I am a teacher and as per our contract, I can use up to 40 of my own stored sick days (we don't get vacation time as it is built into the school year). I used 40 with DD two years ago, so this time I am using 30 that I have saved up. Within those 30 days is a week of vacation (Winter Break in February), so I am technically getting 7 weeks completely paid. After that, I am taking 6 weeks partially paid (2/3 of your salary or $530, whichever is higher) through the NJFLA (not sure if other states offer a program like this). Then, I am taking 3 weeks completely unpaid through FMLA. I will return to work with about 7 weeks left to the school year and then be off for the summer. I am going back to get a few paychecks and so that I don't lose my health insurance. All in all, I will be off for 16 weeks.

I also pay into a private disability plan, so I will get some money through that. It's about what I would get in those three weeks of work that I am taking unpaid, so it works out that I will get paid something the entire time I am off.

Mrs E in Oregon · December 2012

You should check to see if your bed rest is considered medical leave. I don't think that is considered part of your maternity leave but medical. May still be unpaid but you could have your 2 weeks back.

Smiley-1980 · December 2012

I get a year because I'm in Canada.

InkedMegs · December 2012

I have 6 weeks of STD (8 weeks for a c/s), but for the first two weeks, I have to use up all of my vacation/sick time. After those initial two weeks, the STD will kick in and I will get 60% of my pay for four weeks (to total the 6 weeks).

After STD, I will take the additional 6 weeks of FMLA (unpaid). This will give me a total of 12 weeks off.

If things get tight, I can return to work at anytime during the unpaid FMLA period.

Soooo... I have no secrets to extra time off!

pitterpatter129 · December 2012

I taking 12 weeks unpaid FMLA, but the school district I work for will technically hold a position for me for up to 3 years if I wanted to take a long term leave. You just lose all your benefits (and pay obviously) during that time. Basically, you quit, but they will give you a teaching position if you want to return after a couple of years.

court115 · December 2012

I was barely able to get 8 (mostly unpaid) weeks off. I'll only get paid for 3 weeks because I'm using all of my 2013 PTO days. Sooooo..... I have no tips for getting a longer leave

lifewrite · January 2013

InkedMegs:
I have 6 weeks of STD (8 weeks for a c/s), but for the first two weeks, I have to use up all of my vacation/sick time. After those initial two weeks, the STD will kick in and I will get 60% of my pay for four weeks (to total the 6 weeks).
After STD, I will take the additional 6 weeks of FMLA (unpaid). This will give me a total of 12 weeks off.
If things get tight, I can return to work at anytime during the unpaid FMLA period.
Soooo... I have no secrets to extra time off!

This exactly for me as well. If I go on bed rest up to 6 weeks before baby is born that will be STD for me as well. I should have one more week of vacation left but to use it I have to go back to work for at least 1/2 day after STD ends then I can take that week.

MT-Head · January 2013

My office policy allows up to 6 months off, but it is not paid. I have to use sick and/or leave time for all of my maternity leave or go unpaid. Gotta love the U.S. federal government!

superkarynfragilistic · January 2013

Our HR dept informed me that I will have to use up all my sick time before I can apply for FMLA. At our school we use up any accrued sick time, six week unpaid leave, and then we can request FMLA time.

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