Maternity leave question

clairelange · June 2015

Hi all. I'm english living in the USA. Just wondering what the min standard for maternity leave is here? I thought it was 6 weeks unpaid, but now I'm reading 12 weeks....

kate5all · June 2015

Under the Family Medical Leave Act, you're entitled to 12 weeks unpaid as long as your employer has 50 or more employees and you've worked there for at least a year. I don't know if this is restricted to US citizens, though, sorry.

chantelle&aaron · June 2015

mine is 6wks minimum and 12wks max. Using sick, vacation and overtime for pay but once tht is used up it is unpaid.

chantelle&aaron · June 2015

Also I am from Australia and not a us citizen and covered by the family medical leave act mentioned in pp.

rainbowBOOM · June 2015

Definitely based on your company. FMLA is 12 weeks unpaid, that basically holds your position or an equivalent position in the company, that can run concurrently with short term disability for a normal birth that would pay some. It's all based on what your employer has put into place. STD can pay out 100% or 60% or another percent. Just depends on the employer plan.

Best to discuss what you HR dept has in place with them.

mrsrep123 · June 2015

Definitely call your HR dept for details. They'll be able to tell you EVERYTHING you need to know. Possibly talk to some of your coworkers that recently had babies, too. In general, though, in CA, SDI covers 55% of your wages for the first 6 or 8 weeks, vaginal or cesarean birth respectively. Then there's CFRA which also covers 6 weeks at 55% for baby bonding. The other 45% can be made up with sick or vacation time.

biaromoy · June 2015

Wow, 6 weeks sounds ridiculously short to me. Especially unpaid... Australian mum here so 18 weeks of paid parental leave for me

cdch820 · June 2015

I can't afford unpaid leave so I have to return to work after 1 week.. Washington state doesn't allow moms to get unemployment or disability unless she or the baby is considered seriously ill

charliepepper · June 2015

Unfortunately, If you're not covered under FMLA or in one of the very few states that has state-sponsored disability, then there is no guarantee of anything. Check with your employer.

babylo1 · June 2015

That is exactly what I have where I work. And I just had a meeting with HR last week and found out that because our new Fiscal Year begins on July 1st, I have the opportunity to enroll into our work "sick bank." I had no idea we even had such a thing! So, the way it works is I have to donate at least one of my sick days into the sick bank and then I am officially enrolled and able to take from it if/when I need it. The only stipulation is that you have to wait and be off of work for at least 30 working days before you are allowed to use it. My HR director calculated up my vacation time, sick time and the time that I get to advance from next year, and it just so happens that I have just enough time built up to cover me for the 30 working days that I have to wait and then the sick bank will kick in and cover the rest of my time!!! :-) So, LONG story short...I get to take the entire 12 weeks of maternity leave with FULL PAY!!!!! I have never been SO relieved in my entire life!!! I have spent a lot (and I mean a lot) of time worrying and stressing out over how we were going to make it financially without my paycheck. Now, there has just been a HUGE weight lifted off of me!!!! And I get to spend an entire 12 weeks with my baby girl!

JHaworth84 · June 2015

cdch820 said:
I can't afford unpaid leave so I have to return to work after 1 week.. Washington state doesn't allow moms to get unemployment or disability unless she or the baby is considered seriously ill

In the UK it's actually illegal to work in the first two weeks after childbirth for women working in light/office jobs and in the first six weeks after childbirth for women working in heavy manual/factory jobs x

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Maternity leave question

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