maternity leave at a small business

Re: maternity leave at a small business

• jlaOK member

  October 2013

  I work for a small engineering company (only 4 employees) and was also the first to have a baby in the company.  I was at the end of 1st tri when it was time for my yearly employment agreement renewal and told my boss before then so that we could include my leave agreement in that renewal (since I didn't qualify for FMLA and had no job protection).  My boss asked for time to think about what they were going to do and he came back with 2 weeks vacation (I work PT and previously didn't have any paid leave), 2 weeks maternity leave (which is now their official maternity/paternity policy), and that I could take a total of 6 weeks off.  The only change I requested was that I wanted to take a total of 8 weeks off, with 4 being unpaid.  They agreed and it was written as such.

  I didn't do any research about what other small engineering companies in my area have for a maternity leave policy.  Since it is a male dominated field, I doubt that many have a policy in place, much less one with any paid leave.  When we were TTC, DH and I planned for me to take 8 weeks off totally unpaid, so I was happy with 4 week paid.

  Hope that helps.

  

                                                

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• RissNRuss member

  October 2013

  My office has 5 total employees: The two principals, me  (the only regular full time employee), a part time (20hr/wk) person and our administration person who does about 4 hours on Fridays. They used to be bigger, but I was only the third ML person in the company history (about 25 years).
  I was given 8 weeks ML with 50% pay, or 8 weeks with 4 weeks at full pay and 4 weeks at no pay. I wasn't required to give up my vacation (2 wks/yr). I took at 8 weeks at 50% pay and was extremely grateful. I worked until the day before A was born.
  Oh, and my office is so small, we really don't have benefits like insurances, 401k etc, so that kind of stuff wasn't effected (I have insurance through my husband, and our savings programs are through an alternative program).
  

  
  Our lil' diva: late like her Momma: 40 weeks 5 days!
  

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• mexicolombiana member

  October 2013

  It's just me and my boss at my job.  No employee handbook or rules.  We just sat down and talked about it while I was pregnant with each child and came to an agreement. 

  
  

  I would ask for at least 6 weeks paid and then maybe take some more time unpaid.  

  
  

  www.badillolawyer.com
  http://balletandbabies.blogspot.com

  
  

  
  
  

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