For those of you who started your leave early...

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

At my appt. on Friday I mentioned that I had been dealing with a lot of unnecessary stress at work, and I've been having a lot of cramping and contractions (which I assumed was normal at this point in pregnancy). She stated that they really want me to make it to at least 38 weeks and if work is that stressful it is not healthy for me or baby. She mentioned me starting leave early. After talking with DH we decided that that would be best, so I took yesterday and today off to get paperwork, forms etc. together. I'm currently waiting for the nurse to call me back.

So my question is, what additional things should I remember to get from my Dr. that my employer might need? And if you're written out early for medical reasons you are still covered by FMLA, correct? I just want to make sure all of my bases are covered so I don't forget anything or need to deal with anything additional from HR. If I don't get things sorted out today I will go back to work tomorrow and it's causing me anxiety just thinking about it.

usernewname · April 2014

Wish I had insight on what you need, but I just started my leave today as I chose to leave early due to stress at work. Its a great feeling and you'll be glad you did it!

Mimaloo · April 2014

I left early only because of spring break (which is this week). I will not be returning to work next Monday since my c-section is on Wednesday.

My employer provides 8 weeks of paid vacation that do not count towards FMLA time (which will be 12 weeks of unpaid time off). They gave me disability paperwork to complete (one page for me and one page for my doctor to fill out). I also have a couple of Aflac policies so I made sure to get that paperwork in order.

I'm not sure if being out for medical reasons falls under FMLA - I would look into that. In NY you have to submit a written request for maternity leave and your employer must respond, in writing, within five days whether or not they are counting your maternity leave as FMLA. If they do not specify then it does not count towards FMLA - you can consider the time off a gift.

Alexinav · April 2014

Yesterday was my first day "on leave"
If your 36 wks or more your covered by fmla however so I wouldn't dig into that I took my vacation first so my leave won't official start until I am 38 weeks I did have to call hr tho because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be breaking any rules. But I would call hr they r the ones who would know best on what exactly you need.

amroke · April 2014

A lot of this depends on your state, your employer, and how long you've been at your job, how many hours you work, etc (I don't qualify for FMLA for example because I've been at my job for less than a year).

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

Thanks for your feedback. It looks like I would be covered by FMLA, but I also realized that there are only 6.5 weeks left of the school year. I was planning on my last day being May 9. So I would be moving it up 2 weeks. Which I have at least 2 weeks of PTO already.

I'm just getting frustrated because I can't get a response from anyone, my HR or the nurse who is supposed to be helping me. She's had my paperwork since my 32 week appt and never submitted or returned it to me, as she stated she would. I'm at the point where I feel like I'm harassing everyone, which is making everything even harder.

IBackBevo · April 2014

Good for you! I have to take my leave unpaid so I can't answer all of your questions--and they may somewhat depend on your employer and if you have a STD policy--but I am also making this week my last week. I think it is smart to put our bodies and our babies first in these last few weeks. We have the rest of your lives to work.

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

IBackBevo said:

Good for you! I have to take my leave unpaid so I can't answer all of your questions--and they may somewhat depend on your employer and if you have a STD policy--but I am also making this week my last week. I think it is smart to put our bodies and our babies first in these last few weeks. We have the rest of your lives to work.

THIS!! That is what DH said this weekend. Plus, we fought so hard to even have this baby that I do not want to jeopardize anything going wrong.

I have STD and after some research I should be covered, as long as I have a letter from my OB. Otherwise I would have to take the entire leave unpaid as well.

I just feel like I'm leaving work hanging while I've been out these last couple of days as I wait for all of this paperwork, and I don't like that feeling. But then again, my HR told me in Jan. when I initially said I was pg, that I had to work until the end regardless of how uncomfortable I am. Which is total BS.

IBackBevo · April 2014

ebuge said:

I just feel like I'm leaving work hanging while I've been out these last couple of days as I wait for all of this paperwork, and I don't like that feeling. But then again, my HR told me in Jan. when I initially said I was pg, that I had to work until the end regardless of how uncomfortable I am. Which is total BS.

That is BS! I would not feel bad at all. I think the expectations that many employers (and, to some degree, society) places on working Moms to work until they go into labor is completely unrealistic. Yes, maybe a few can do it, but I don't think it is or should be the norm.

delatl · April 2014

I'm about to check with HR about this same thing. However, my mother--who was a social worker and knows these kinds of things--told me that if you have such benefits, time before labor could qualify as sick time.

Unknown · April 2014

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jfletcher3113 · April 2014

It is different for everyone depending on your work situation but here's how mine works (if it helps). I'm taking off 10 work days before my due date.

I'm in California and I have Kaiser.

No matter when my leave starts, the first seven days is paid with sick time. Then after that, I use PTO to cover the 45 percent that disability and FMLA doesn't. (I am covered for up to four weeks of FMLA before I give birth, I opted to take 10 days but that's assuming he comes exactly on my due date, which is highly unlikely.)

I was required by my employer to get a note from my doctor stating that I am going out early, which I got her to print out for me when I saw her at my last checkup.

My insurance requires disability to be filed online, which I can't do until the day my leave actually starts. Then I had to fax over paperwork to get my healthcare provider to fill out their portion of the FMLA form - this took about five business days to get it back to me in the mail.

Keep harassing people ... sometimes you have to. If it's causing a lot of anxiety maybe your DH can do some of the harassing? If that nurse has had your paperwork for five weeks, that's just crazy! I might even physically go down there in person to get it figured out.

Edited because sometimes I make no sense.

talkthewholetime · April 2014

ebuge said:

Thanks for your feedback. It looks like I would be covered by FMLA, but I also realized that there are only 6.5 weeks left of the school year. I was planning on my last day being May 9. So I would be moving it up 2 weeks. Which I have at least 2 weeks of PTO already.
I'm just getting frustrated because I can't get a response from anyone, my HR or the nurse who is supposed to be helping me. She's had my paperwork since my 32 week appt and never submitted or returned it to me, as she stated she would. I'm at the point where I feel like I'm harassing everyone, which is making everything even harder.

I'm moving my date up by a week (also a teacher). I can use 20 sick days before, so I'm just using 18 sick days vs 13. My doctor had no problem writing me a note after 36 weeks for FLMA or whatever I needed to take. I won't be taking FLMA though, just using days I have banked.

abundancenow · April 2014

amroke said:

A lot of this depends on your state, your employer, and how long you've been at your job, how many hours you work, etc (I don't qualify for FMLA for example because I've been at my job for less than a year).

The above is important for determining the details.

I went on early leave with my last pregnancy because of a stressful work environment. My OB would not sign off on anything earlier than my states benefits for standard temp disability for maternity leave prior to due date. I was also being seen by my primary dr regarding dealing with the stress that was a direct result of my job and thankfully he signed off. I went on temp disability about 7 weeks prior to my due date and got 2/3rds of my pay. FML is separate in my state in that it only covers the time needed for the care of your baby (dependent). In my state you still get an additional 6-8 weeks for disability after delivery (depending on c section vs vaginal).

Hope this helps, regardless do what you need to do to care for yourself and baby, the few weeks you go on leave early mean nothing compared to your health and wellbeing and no one is going to care for you as well and you are able to advocate caring for yourself.

Best wishes.

springbeduk2 · April 2014

Do you have sick days left that can cover tomorrow and the next day if needed while you get this sorted out? And why are they saying that without a note from the OB the whole leave will be unpaid rather than under your short-term-disability? Seems like the worst-case scenario should be that the days this week or really worst-case even next might be unpaid if you are out of sick leave but then from your delivery on at least should be covered. ??

You're a teacher, right? Is your principal being nicer about all this than your HR department? And is there a long-term sub lined up? Maternity leaves are so common in schools they really should have a better system and way way better treatment of expectant moms than it sounds like they do! Especially since it's actually better for the students if you plan your leave to start at a good time (for the sub to start) than it is to work right up until you go into labor and have to leave in a rush with them scrambling for coverage for the next day. People in my district (which is generally NOT known for being organized or handling financial stuff well, but still can do maternity leaves properly!) didn't even blink when I said the midwives told me not to work the week before the due date and that it really made sense to start leave 1.5 weeks before due date to let sub. start right after April vacation. Though I have worked here for years and have plenty of sick days saved up which makes it simpler, but still ...

Anyway, I'm sorry it is being so complicated and hope you can get it worked out and put the stress aside soon! If they don't care about your health/well-being you could try the "better for the students" angle (they need a teacher who is at full energy, or it's better for the long-term sub to just start so the students get real lessons and not day-by-day babysitting sub plans, etc.)

Good luck and take care of you and that baby!

britab · April 2014

I'm a teacher and here we don't get short term disability. Our FMLA weeks start whenever we start our leave, so you can take time before the birth but then get less afterward. Since I'm due at the end of May, I'm not worrying about it. I'm startling my leave on May 27 and due May 29. I might as well take a few of the sick days I have been saving.

GL! Someone in HR had to meet with me in person.

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

Finally got things figured out and my OB signed off for my leave to start tomorrow. I am SO relieved. The nurse made a bigger deal about it than necessary. As someone else mentioned, after 36 weeks they don't make an issue about signing someone out.

Now I'm just crossing my fingers baby can hold out so I can get some things done before his arrival!!

Alexinav · April 2014

Well good luck! I hope you are able
to go on leave when you want esp since you are stressed and I would not worry about leaving work hanging especially since they weren't worried about you!

vincoand · April 2014

I would think it depends on your company policy. I work for a hospital system, for us if your written off work the time off comes from your long- term disability bank, then FMLA starts the day you actually deliver. We also have to burn 2 weeks vacation prior to using disability or FMLA (so I figured may as well take the two weeks!)

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

@springbeduk2 I am a teacher, but at a private school. They are currently going through some major administrative changes. They actually fired the Principal who had been there for 40 yrs on MLK Jr. day this year. They didn't even have a sub lined up for me until 2 weeks ago and the kindest thing I can say about her is that she's "nice". She's honestly not even a licensed teacher.

This is all besides the point now that my leave has been approved and I was able to use my saved time off as well. It actually worked out for the best! I really think leaving now was better for the kids too, they were starting to have anxiety about when my leave would start (I'm a SPED teacher). So I feel like everything worked out as it should!

tbiscuit18 · April 2014

@talkthewholetime The nurse I spoke with said my dr. didn't even question why I was asking and willingly changed the date and signed it. I mean really, we can go at any time now, so what's the difference if we take extra time if can? Between STD and PTO I should be fine until paychecks revert to normal over summer break. I'm semi-jealous you are due later in the month so you can afford to just use accrued days vs. STD. That's really nice!

talkthewholetime · April 2014

ebuge said:

@talkthewholetime The nurse I spoke with said my dr. didn't even question why I was asking and willingly changed the date and signed it. I mean really, we can go at any time now, so what's the difference if we take extra time if can? Between STD and PTO I should be fine until paychecks revert to normal over summer break. I'm semi-jealous you are due later in the month so you can afford to just use accrued days vs. STD. That's really nice!

I'm really lucky! I called my doctor yesterday too to see about getting a note to change my date, and they were so fine with it too. Very reliving! That stinks you can't use your banked sick time. I've been saving mine for 6 years just for this! I can use 20 days before, and 20 days after.

Although my paychecks won't go back to normal until I go back. I only get paid 10 months with an option to save 10% of my salary and get it on the last day. Our contract goes Sept-June.

IBackBevo · April 2014

I would be very surprised that any decent, sympathetic OB would give a patient a hard time about signing off on leave at 36+ weeks. They are a douche if they do!

quiana55 · May 2014

My doctor took me off work at 31 weeks because of irregular blood pressure, etc. We have Metlife and any time we file a claim for STD it automatically runs a concurrent FMLA claim for the same time. I had to fill out and submit forms and then they sent forms to my doctor that he submitted to them as well. The claim was approved, STD gets me paid, and FMLA approves my time off of work, basically- that's why we need both. This time off does not count towards my 8 weeks that I will get starting the day of my c-section delivery, also, but I won't have to file a new claim, it is all the same claim number(s), etc. So, luckily, I'm good to go!! Just bored, sitting at home, waiting for my baby boy to come on out!

Preggerswitnum3 · May 2014

I am a nurse on a busy unit I work 12 hr shifts. Work was very difficult standing running etc my midwives had me go out on leave on Friday where I was just shy of 36 weeks. Due to me living in mass because it is not "medically necessary" I can't claim benefits of my STD policy. I will however get 6 weeks of pay(60%) upon delivery in a lump sum but won't see it for about a month that's the processing time. Ugh

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