No Maternity Leave?!?

SwetaV · January 2013

Just found out today that my company doesnt offer any type of paid maternity leave! I didnt sign up for STD as every other company I have worked for, big or small, has offered some sort of maternity leave. I get FMLA which is fine, but its not paid. Not sure if anyone has any suggestions on ways around this or things I can do to help, but i'd appreciate any input.

mburkhe · January 2013

I have to use all of my vacation/sick time to be paid for my leave, after that time is used up the rest of my leave will be unpaid.

mben1119 · January 2013

The only thing you can do is use any vacation/ paid time off you may have accumulated. There is no way "around" these things.

mrsf123 · January 2013

I don't get any paid mat leave. DH and I just save our money before we have a LO so I can take the time off I need!

plunderb · January 2013

Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

lillyq1982 · January 2013

I work for a large medical device company and they have no maternity leave policy (ironic right?). I just have to use STD and then FMLA.

magdalina.h · January 2013

Mine doesn't have maternity leave either. I use my personal time with my STD.

kje120 · January 2013

Unfortunately like everyone else said all you can do is use your vacation/sick time.

leahaustin · January 2013

My company does not offer paid maternity leave either but I will have two weeks vacation and about one week pto time saved up. I will just take the last three weeks unpaid.

Jilly82 · January 2013

None for me either. I use my personal and sick days

Melanieian · January 2013

Most U.S. companies do not have maternity leave, I honestly can't think of anyone I know that has ever been on paid maternity leave. I have 4 weeks vacation and I'll have about 1 1/2 weeks of personal time and 2 floating holiday days that I'll be using plus we are saving money for the time that I am off.

jdebaie · January 2013

I only get FMLA as well and have to use my sick/vacation time if I want to get paid. Totally sucks!

sweetpea2003 · January 2013

That is typical in the US. I am a school counselor and was working in a public school system when I had my kids. They didn't offer any paid maternity leave benefits at all (and think of how female-heavy the teaching profession is). I had to use my sick/vacation and then FMLA (unpaid). It is what it is.

On the other hand, my husband (military) got 2 weeks of paid paternity leave. haha. Go figure.

The only way "around it" is to carry special insurance like Aflac that has a maternity leave policy built in. They usually will pay a certain % of your income for maternity leave if you have the right policy. You are SOL though because you have to carry a policy 12 months before you can cash in for maternity benefits (so, you can't get a + pregnancy test then buy insurance with maternity bennies).

1026pumpkin · January 2013

I have never worked for a company that did have a paid mat leave it was always paid through STD. 2 thoughts check with your state to see if there is a state disability program mine had one that I was paying into and never realized it!, and ask HR if you can enroll in your company's program after you deliver. A new baby is considered a "life event" and you can usually change all your insurance options at that time...it wouldn't cover leave before delivery and usually has a one week wait period, but it could cover your leave after delivery if you're allowed to enroll in it.

blush64 · January 2013

plunderb:

Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

I find this wheel interesting. I am Canadian and we get a year off which is nice. I live in Ontario so it's actually 52 weeks. I know some places in Europe get more.

I think it's a horrible shame that something isn't being done to give mothers more time off (and/or fathers) in the USA.

katharine25 · January 2013

plunderb:
Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.
There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

Definitely time to move to Canada!!

dreadiemama · January 2013

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.

homebird · January 2013

You can't "get around" company policy.

Unfortunately, in the US unpaid maternity leave is pretty common. I'd start saving up for your ML now!

blush64 · January 2013

dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.

FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

EDIT Should be more past. As a rule ONtario has been a "have" province although things have changed. The population is way higher than other provinces and the needs are different. As much as people in Canada love to hate it it is the place where most of the newcomers to Canada come and settle and has different needs than certain other provinces.

dreadiemama · January 2013

blush64:
dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.

FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

hmmmm... I was under the impression that Alberta paid the most with all the oil they are mining up there.

blush64 · January 2013

dreadiemama:
blush64:
dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.

FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

hmmmm... I was under the impression that Alberta paid the most with all the oil they are mining up there.

I have edited but it doesn't address this right now. I don't have time at the moment to get into the whole equalization payments (transfer payments). (where they started, what isn't taken into consideration and where they are now)

Lorlain · January 2013

I feel ridiculously lucky to have 12 full weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave and my husband gets 6-8 weeks of paternity leave. My company even offers 12 weeks of maternity/paternity leave for adopting a child.

I really can't believe there is no mandate in the US stating that companies must offer paid maternity/paternity leave.

JLHeisler · January 2013

FMLA starts from the day you give birth. So you use your sick days then go unpaid the remainder of the leave.

anvloveskme · January 2013

I think it is the norm that most companies do NOT offer paid maternity leave. Mine was all unpaid with DD. This time I signed up for AFLAC in advance, but you have to have that in place for 10 months prior to delivery. Sorry, I think you are SOL.

jenny1980 · January 2013

I'm surprised you didn't look into this pre-pregnancy because as others have said, it's actually more common NOT to have paid leave. I work at a private school with excellent benefits and we don't even have paid leave here. I am taking STD (I had signed up through Aflac pre-pregnancy) and then using accrued sick and vacation time.

There really is no "way around it."

MichelleDis · January 2013

I've never worked anywhere in my almost 20 years of a career that had paid maternity leave. It was always use your sick/vacation first, and then whatever STD was available (usualy 60-70% pay for up to 8-10 weeks), then FMLA covers you for the time off for the rest, but no pay.

In the US, it is more the standard to NOT offer any paid maternity leave. It is very rare somewhere does here. If you get anything at all, it is usually under STD, which usually requires using up any paid time off you have first.

IrishTraveler · January 2013

I have 12 weeks of paid maternity leave with another four weeks at partial pay. I'm crazyfortunate to work at a place that offers it. Most employers don't, and employees rely on STD, sick/vacation time, or nothing at all.

foxyroxy · January 2013

Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).

SwetaV · January 2013

GhostMonkey:
foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

Agreed. I qualify for FMLA but like GhostMonkey said, if they eliminate my position while i'm gone, i'm also SOL. I guess with the good comes the bad. Just got to take it all in strides.

foxyroxy · January 2013

GhostMonkey:
foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

Yes, I know, but 6 weeks leave sounds like a dream to me right now, paid or unpaid.

animalcrckr · January 2013

As everyone else has said, it is very common to not get paid maternity leave.

The only company I know of that continues to pay your full salary is the United States military.

foxyroxy · January 2013

SwetaV:
GhostMonkey:
foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

Agreed. I qualify for FMLA but like GhostMonkey said, if they eliminate my position while i'm gone, i'm also SOL. I guess with the good comes the bad. Just got to take it all in strides.

I work for a very small non-profit, we're all swamped with work, and we're growing. I can't imagine a scenario where my position would be eliminated. Not that is matters. Oh well. DH doesn't get any leave, either. I would be more than happy to let him be a SAHD for awhile.

Melanieian · January 2013

foxyroxy:
SwetaV:
GhostMonkey:

foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

Agreed. I qualify for FMLA but like GhostMonkey said, if they eliminate my position while i'm gone, i'm also SOL. I guess with the good comes the bad. Just got to take it all in strides.

I work for a very small non-profit, we're all swamped with work, and we're growing. I can't imagine a scenario where my position would be eliminated. Not that is matters. Oh well. DH doesn't get any leave, either. I would be more than happy to let him be a SAHD for awhile.

So you aren't going to take any time off work?

foxyroxy · January 2013

Melanieian:
foxyroxy:
SwetaV:
GhostMonkey:

foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees).
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

Agreed. I qualify for FMLA but like GhostMonkey said, if they eliminate my position while i'm gone, i'm also SOL. I guess with the good comes the bad. Just got to take it all in strides.

I work for a very small non-profit, we're all swamped with work, and we're growing. I can't imagine a scenario where my position would be eliminated. Not that is matters. Oh well. DH doesn't get any leave, either. I would be more than happy to let him be a SAHD for awhile.

So you aren't going to take any time off work?

Well, I will have a couple of weeks of vacation time, then I am hoping to work out a part-time schedule with my office (I haven't told them yet; I will do that next week) maybe through the end of they year. October is crazy busy for us, but it slows down a lot after that.

I've never really been someone who wanted to be a SAHM mom, but obviously 6 weeks would be lovely. That's why I said to be grateful if you even just had FMLA. DH would love to be a SAHD, but there is no way we could afford it; He makes much more than I do.

kellieann5 · January 2013

Can you even go back to work before 6 weeks? I still could barely sit down at 4 weeks.

There is possibly a way 'around' your company policy. If your company allows you to purchase STD as a benefit, it's probably expected that you do that before you get pregnant, or that you enroll during open enrollment (which was probably in Nov. - Dec. for you).

You can ask HR if you can enroll now, or you need to have a qualified life change. You or hubby change jobs, retire, etc. etc. (you need to check your company policy on what they consider qualified life changes). If you have one soon, you should be able to re-enroll in your benefits - and choose to enroll in STD.

rissa06 · January 2013

blush64:
plunderb:

Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

I find this wheel interesting. I am Canadian and we get a year off which is nice. I live in Ontario so it's actually 52 weeks. I know some places in Europe get more.

I think it's a horrible shame that something isn't being done to give mothers more time off (and/or fathers) in the USA.

i agree. We are one of the only industrialized nation that does offer paid maternity leave. I have been writing letters with references and proposals for a us paid maternity leave. Additionally, joined an organization that is lobbying for that.

ekoenig4 · January 2013

My company does offer fully paid maternity leave and I can assure you that it's rare. We are so blessed to have this. With DD I could only afford to take 6 weeks off and I still regret it.

KdgTeacher · January 2013

Melanieian:

Most U.S. companies do not have maternity leave, I honestly can't think of anyone I know that has ever been on paid maternity leave. I have 4 weeks vacation and I'll have about 1 1/2 weeks of personal time and 2 floating holiday days that I'll be using plus we are saving money for the time that I am off.

My district gives 6/8 wks paid depending on the type of delivery. We have no PTO/sick leave to use though.

We get FMLA and can take up to 2 years child rearing and come back to a job (unpaid of course).

HD12 · January 2013

mburkhe:
I have to use all of my vacation/sick time to be paid for my leave, after that time is used up the rest of my leave will be unpaid.

This. I haven't taken any vacation or sick days since I started at my company almost two years ago. By the time I'm due I'll have enough for about 6 weeks paid, and after that it'll be unpaid.

Ladydianna · January 2013

I only work part time so no leave for me. Athough I will get disability for 8 weeks. DH does get 4 weeks Paternity though do that's always nice, even though he always ends up working from home a couple hours a week a day anyway.

Beaglechon2012 · January 2013

That sucks, I'm in a similar situation except I don't even get FMLA. Luckily they're allowing me to take unpaid leave. I don't have any advice, just wanted to say you're not alone.

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