Maternity leave

cbliess · February 2015

Im having a rough time with the whole thing about maternity leave because my job doesn't have vacation days or sick days, medical leave and it's only helping me to get through my bills cause it's an low income job which I'll be paid off all the bills I have with my tax returns but I won't have money to save for maternity leave so I may only get two weeks off. What do I do about this?

KonaCoffeeBean · February 2015

Go back after two weeks. I plan go to back after three. I'm not sure what your question is. Are you concerned about how to arrange child care?r

MamaBish · February 2015

It seems like he only choices you have are to go back to work after two weeks or find a different job

mamahawk12 · February 2015

I'm not really sure what the question is...? It doesn't really sounds like you have a choice. I would start exploring your childcare options now (if you haven't already) because most places have age minimums of around 6 weeks.

deutschbaby · February 2015

You don't have a lot of options. First of all, I'm sorry you are in this situation. It sucks royally, and absolutely should be illegal. I am assuming you are American, as the USA is the ONLY OECD country without paid maternity leave. It is sad and atrocious (and yes, I am an American as well).

I'm sorry you have to leave you baby so soon. I really wish it could be different for you. You need to look into child care options. But really, the only option you have is to find another job, or try to find another means of support. Vote accordingly. I firmly believe that paid parental leave is incredibly important and no woman should be forced to leave a 2 week old because their leave is unpaid.

I am a US federal employee, and even I do not have paid maternity leave. My DH and I have saved up and I will be taking unpaid leave, but many women don't have that option and that makes me sad. I have a coworker who had a c-section and was back in the office SIX DAYS later because her DH had lost his job and they couldn't afford for her to take the leave without pay.

Like I said, I'm sorry. There are only 4 countries without paid maternity leave: Swaziland, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea, and The United States of America. It's sad, and it should change :-(

Cateash77 · February 2015

That's terrible for you. As a low income worker are you entitled to any parenting payments or benefits? do you have a partner and could live off one income for a while? Perhaps you could arrange with your work to take unpaid leave, and return at 8 weeks? That's still early but 2 weeks will be very challenging. Is there a community centre in your area that can advise you? Like the previous poster said I'm so sorry this is happening to you! I live in Australia and we get 18 weeks paid leave and employers need to hold your job for a year. I really hope something better works out for you :-)

KaLikeAWind · February 2015

This is a tough situation. I also work a low wage job, and only part time (2 days a week) as there are no real jobs in my area and I have to take what I can. I'm lucky enough DH is active duty military and will have a constant paycheck once I stop working, but our funds are already so tight, just imagining them after LO comes is scary. He already took a second job to cushion the loss of my paltry paycheck. It's probably going to be a no cable, no eating out, no fun of any kind existence for us. I don't have any suggestions (I wish I did!) but I feel your pain

dkleid · February 2015

I'm sorry you are going through this. One thing you have to keep in mind even if you do not have maternity leave you have to be medically cleared to return to work after having a baby. Most company's will not allow you to return to work without a note from the doctor. Most doctors (if not all) will not clear you to go back to work until you are at least 6 weeks post partum. It would be worth talking to your ob and looking into child care options because every place we looked at (and we looked at 6) would not take a baby until they were 6 weeks most were 8 weeks. But if you are low income look into state assistance, it is there for a reason.

KonaCoffeeBean · March 2015

dkleid said:
I'm sorry you are going through this. One thing you have to keep in mind even if you do not have maternity leave you have to be medically cleared to return to work after having a baby. Most company's will not allow you to return to work without a note from the doctor. Most doctors (if not all) will not clear you to go back to work until you are at least 6 weeks post partum. It would be worth talking to your ob and looking into child care options because every place we looked at (and we looked at 6) would not take a baby until they were 6 weeks most were 8 weeks. But if you are low income look into state assistance, it is there for a reason.

I knew that companies could do this, but I am surprised to hear that it is common practice. I'm self employed now, but before that worked for couple of different firms, which did not have any prohibitions about when a mother could return to work. Of course, these have all been white collar professional jobs; I imagine a physically strenuous job would be different. A couple of years ago, my paralegal came back a week after giving birth. Assuming I don't have complications in my delivery, I can't imagine why wouldn't be fit to resume my practice before six weeks.

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