Maternity Leave

cynthiasun79 · September 2013

Survey for working mothers. When do you expect to go out on maternity leave? I'm due Nov. 25 and think I'm going to see if the dr will take me out the first week of November. This is my second child, so I've realized drs are more flexible and probably willing to take me out sooner than typical... Hoping!

kelley72 · September 2013

Personally I would wait until as close to delivery as possible to have more time after the birth of the baby... Hope you have a beautiful delivery!

StephPV · September 2013

I agree with pp. I think I am going to try and stay as long as possible so that I maximize the time after the birth.

Of course that may end up being a week before my due date, but if I feel OK, I am going to try and hang in there.

cynthiasun79 · September 2013

In California after the birth you're automatically given 8 weeks for c-section and 6 weeks for bonding. Regardless to the amount of time you take before the birth...I guess it depends on finances too.

jbelle · September 2013

cynthiasun79 said:

In California after the birth you're automatically given 8 weeks for c-section and 6 weeks for bonding. Regardless to the amount of time you take before the birth...I guess it depends on finances too.

My plan is the same as the above posters. While I'll get 6 weeks paid in full after birth, I want to take the full 12 FMLA allows for, and I hope to take that all after the birth.

However, I'm also due in March, and my vacation days expire each year. If I was due in November, I might not be guarding my days quite so preciously knowing my vacation time was about to reset. As it is, I also need to be concerned about being prepared for sick days for the six months in 2014 that my daughter will be in daycare.

Of course, I'm a FTM, and you know what they say about the best laid plans!

ETA: I've also got a low key desk job (IT), though, so sitting here is essentially as easy as sitting at home, if not as much fun!

Mayzie15 · September 2013

jbelle said:

cynthiasun79 said:

In California after the birth you're automatically given 8 weeks for c-section and 6 weeks for bonding. Regardless to the amount of time you take before the birth...I guess it depends on finances too.

My plan is the same as the above posters. While I'll get 6 weeks paid in full after birth, I want to take the full 12 FMLA allows for, and I hope to take that all after the birth.

However, I'm also due in March, and my vacation days expire each year. If I was due in November, I might not be guarding my days quite so preciously knowing my vacation time was about to reset. As it is, I also need to be concerned about being prepared for sick days for the six months in 2014 that my daughter will be in daycare.

Of course, I'm a FTM, and you know what they say about the best laid plans!

ETA: I've also got a low key desk job (IT), though, so sitting here is essentially as easy as sitting at home, if not as much fun!

Just wanted to add I work in human resources and payroll and if you are in the state of CA you are also entitled to 4 weeks paid by SDI prior to birth. I was going to work as close to my due date as possible but was informed the 4 weeks prior to birth is a use it or lose it policy

you can't add it to the end like I wanted to hope this helps

jbelle · September 2013

Mayzie15 said:
Just wanted to add I work in human resources and payroll and if you are in the state of CA you are also entitled to 4 weeks paid by SDI prior to birth. I was going to work as close to my due date as possible but was informed the 4 weeks prior to birth is a use it or lose it policy you can't add it to the end like I wanted to hope this helps

Ooh, that is a really nice policy! I'm not in CA, but from what I've heard of the last few weeks of pregnancy, that would be a huge boon!

wcjulie27 · September 2013

I work a 27 hour benefited job and I don't get any paid maternity leave but can take whatever sick and vacation time I have accrued. I have 10 weeks sick time banked up from the last several years as well as 4 weeks vacation so will take 12 weeks off paid. My contract also says I can request an unpaid leave of up to one year and still keep my job. Assuming I can work almost to the end, I am planning to go back after 12 weeks and work 20 hours/3 days for 3 months then go to a 27 hour/4 day schedule. I also currently work an 18.5 hour contract/no benefits job and will be quitting that about 6 weeks before due date (or sooner as I don't have the stamina for 2- 12 hour days and 3- 8 hour days).

10-4LilBuddy · September 2013

I am working until the very end so I can spend as much time with the kids after they get here. However, I am very fortunate to have a boss who allows me to work from home and I am allowed to be very selective about online meetings.

Geeps2 · September 2013

I am due November 21st with my second and my last day of work is November 15. I didn't want to waste my sick days before hand (I am entitled to 4 weeks before the baby is born and 6-8 weeks after depending on how I deliver) If I took the 4 weeks before I would blow through sick days I don't have since I just started a new job last year. I did the same with my 1st.

mindfulturkey · September 2013

I work for a small non profit. No pay for leave and they are still "deciding" how long I will get. I'm not sure how we are going to pull this off financially as this was not a planned pregnancy. I guess we will work this out somehow.

NotYourBabyMama · September 2013

"Just wanted to add I work in human resources and payroll and if you are in the state of CA you are also entitled to 4 weeks paid by SDI prior to birth. I was going to work as close to my due date as possible but was informed the 4 weeks prior to birth is a use it or lose it policy you can't add it to the end like I wanted to hope this helps "

This is also true for NJ. 4 weeks before SDI - for normal pregnancy - for if you meet the qualifications - 6 weeks after for vaginal and 8 weeks for C section. NJ also has it's own Family Leave that gives you 12 weeks job protection on top of FLMA. They can run concurrently - once you are no longer disabled after having the baby, because FLMA may still be in effect when NJFLA kicks in. There is also NJFLI - which we pay into with each paycheck and gives you 6 weeks paid at the disability rate after you are off disability.

I actually schooled my HR department on how NJFLA/NJFLI works, since she thought it kicks in the second the baby is born. WRONG! It's AFTER you are no longer considered Disabled. Don't let anyone take your time away from you!

Mayzie15 · September 2013

NotYourBabyMama said:

"Just wanted to add I work in human resources and payroll and if you are in the state of CA you are also entitled to 4 weeks paid by SDI prior to birth. I was going to work as close to my due date as possible but was informed the 4 weeks prior to birth is a use it or lose it policy you can't add it to the end like I wanted to hope this helps "

This is also true for NJ. 4 weeks before SDI - for normal pregnancy - for if you meet the qualifications - 6 weeks after for vaginal and 8 weeks for C section. NJ also has it's own Family Leave that gives you 12 weeks job protection on top of FLMA. They can run concurrently - once you are no longer disabled after having the baby, because FLMA may still be in effect when NJFLA kicks in. There is also NJFLI - which we pay into with each paycheck and gives you 6 weeks paid at the disability rate after you are off disability.

I actually schooled my HR department on how NJFLA/NJFLI works, since she thought it kicks in the second the baby is born. WRONG! It's AFTER you are no longer considered Disabled. Don't let anyone take your time away from you!

Wow that's a great policy. We have FMLA too one of the perks of living in CA. Everyone jokes here that is why our state is so broke lol. I agree everyone should research and not leave anytime on the table.

RNmommyof2 · September 2013

I'm in CA too. My doctor took me out at the beginning of August for severe pelvic pain so I'm currently on SDI, but it's true in CA that you're entitled to SDI 4 weeks before your due date, and 8 weeks after for c-section or 6 for vaginal delivery. Plus, the state will pay for 6 weeks of baby bonding (at the same rate as disability) and my company will allow me to take an additional 6 weeks of baby bonding to total 12, but that is not paid unless you have enough PTO to cover it and I do not, so the last 6 weeks of being home after baby is born will be unpaid for me, but we're okay with that.

scole1414 · September 2013

I plan to work until the day of delivery. I have no paid maternity leave so I have saved all my vacation and plan to take off 4 weeks. Luckily my husband works for himself and will be able to take time off when I am back at work to care for the baby. He is great with the little ones so this plan will work well for us.

Melissa72777 · September 2013

I am in NJ and still trying to figure out exactly what I am entitled to. I am planning to work as long as possible prior to delivery as any time I take off prior to delivery does get taken off of the time I will have after delivery. My work allows 6 weeks STD for vaginal delivery & 8 weeks STD for cesarean. Through my work's STD program I get paid at 100% for those 6/8 weeks. I also have supplemental STD through Aflac which pays 60% of my pay for 6 weeks. The state of NJ allows for 6 weeks of "bonding time" after a birth for which I am also eligible to receive 66% of my pay during that time. Based on what I have read in NJ I am eligible for 18 weeks total however I'm still trying to confirm w/my employer if they will hold my job for 18 weeks or if they will only hold it for 12 weeks. I also am confused as to whether the 6/8 weeks of STD counts towards the 12 weeks of FMLA or if FMLA begins after the STD period. I'm supposed to speak with the disability nurse assigned to me tomorrow so hopefully I will get some more clarification.

irishgirl0525 · October 2013

I am in NJ as well and still trying to figure out the NJ FLA and bonding time and when that officially starts. It did not help that my HR person had pretty much no experience with it and when I asked her about it a month ago, she gave me 6 different answers instead of just saying "I don't know'. However, since then I have spoken to someone at NJ Civil Rights to get a better understanding, and my HR person said that she has enlisted the help of someone outside so that she has a better understanding and we will sit down next week and go through it together.

I get 12 weeks through FMLA, and between sick, vacation and STD, I will have 10 weeks paid. I am hoping to get a total of 14 or 15 total if I can afford it with the NJFLA.
I'm planning to work until the week of my due date (11/13) or work from home the week before.

Melissa72777 said:

I am in NJ and still trying to figure out exactly what I am entitled to. I am planning to work as long as possible prior to delivery as any time I take off prior to delivery does get taken off of the time I will have after delivery. My work allows 6 weeks STD for vaginal delivery & 8 weeks STD for cesarean. Through my work's STD program I get paid at 100% for those 6/8 weeks. I also have supplemental STD through Aflac which pays 60% of my pay for 6 weeks. The state of NJ allows for 6 weeks of "bonding time" after a birth for which I am also eligible to receive 66% of my pay during that time. Based on what I have read in NJ I am eligible for 18 weeks total however I'm still trying to confirm w/my employer if they will hold my job for 18 weeks or if they will only hold it for 12 weeks. I also am confused as to whether the 6/8 weeks of STD counts towards the 12 weeks of FMLA or if FMLA begins after the STD period. I'm supposed to speak with the disability nurse assigned to me tomorrow so hopefully I will get some more clarification.

lorifromwi · October 2013

I'm really lucky with how it's setup where I work. I get two weeks before and then my regular leave of 12 weeks after (part 100% paid, part 67% paid). If we can save enough, I'm also trying to take unpaid weeks after that. I figure in case we don't get round two, I'm going to take as much as I can with this LO.

lafsalot · October 2013

I am blessed to work for a company that will allow me to work from home. I am still going into the office right now. My original plan was to work up until the Friday before my induction, but it is getting tougher for me to climb the stairs at work each day (have no issues with stairs at home). Plus I think keeping my feet elevated would be a plus!!! So I am considering working from home the first 2 weeks in November until my due date. I will be out of the office on leave until January 6th and then Working from home until mid-Feb for additional bonding time. I am using a combination of SHort term Disability, vacation and holidays to cover income while at home. DH is using vacation time to be home the week Thanksgiving and for 2 weeks at Christmas, so we are hoping for a fairly quick and easy deliver so he will only miss 2 days for delivery.

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