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October 2015 Moms
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What's your Mat leave policy at work?

southernmama22southernmama22 member
in October 2015 Moms
I just found out mine sucks. 12 weeks, 6 weeks at 60% pay and 6 weeks unpaid. I guess it's better than nothing. Makes me not want to go back.
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Re: What's your Mat leave policy at work?

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  • alinic916alinic916 member
    That does not suck, that's pretty average.
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  • kaweegarkaweegar member
    My company has the same policy @southernmama22 I think its ridiculous! I am so jealous of the Canada moms!
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  • saintpaulJesssaintpaulJess member
    edited June 2015

    I work for the federal government (U.S), so nothing.  New mothers cobble together some sick leave and annual leave, if they have it.  Otherwise, it's unpaid under FMLA.


    edit: spelling

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  • ahoneycutt12ahoneycutt12 member
    I get 6 weeks unpaid so trust me you are pretty lucky where I work doesn't even have to go by fmla which is why I only get 6
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  • devonsd315devonsd315 member
    saintpaulJess said:

    I work for the federal government (U.S), so nothing.  New mothers cobble together some sick leave and annual leave, if they have it.  Otherwise, it's unpaid under FMLA.


    edit: spelling

    This is me as well. You can get forwarded up to six weeks of sick leave if you don't have that much, but then you have to work to pay it back, which could take up to three years. And then if you've saved up six weeks of annual leave (the most you can carry over year to year) you can use all of it to get six more weeks paid. But then you come back with no leave. 

    I will take all of my sick leave (probably 5 weeks saved up), have the rest forwarded or hopefully donated, and then take all of my annual leave (about 4 weeks). I will also go unpaid for probably a month before I come back for about 14 weeks off. All in all it's not bad, for the US :(
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  • kfry22kfry22 member
    We have to use whatever sick time and PTO we have. Anything longer is unpaid. If we go over they stop paying our insurance. So I currently have 6.3 weeks and will have 8 paid weeks by the time I am due.
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  • gogracegograce member
    I'm fairly new to my teaching job (I started in January), so my sick leave is only going to be 11 days. I'll have the 11 days of full pay followed by 6 weeks (excluding the week for Thanksgiving break and two weeks for Christmas break) at 65% of my regular pay. And then I qualify for FMLA (unpaid) and will probably take another two or three weeks off.
    I'm just hoping after I come back to work, I don't get sick!
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  • leighann1leighann1 member
    southernmama22 said:
    I just found out mine sucks. 12 weeks, 6 weeks at 60% pay and 6 weeks unpaid. I guess it's better than nothing. Makes me not want to go back.
    Same. I think that's actually above average in the US, sadly. Any PTO has to be used. 

    With my 12 weeks, I will have something like 39 unpaid days. One bonus that my school district offers: since I'm a teacher with a 12-month contract, they will allow me to choose how I spread out those unpaid days. I could choose to evenly spread them out over my 12 paychecks, which will make budgeting easier. 
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  • dannie134dannie134 member
    I agree with PP, it might not seem like much but be grateful to have some paid leave. I teach at a university and our policy is FMLA (unpaid) and/or "figure it out with your department/college". In my case this means I'm still teaching a full load in the fall and spring semesters, we've converted two of my three fall courses to online classes and I'm going to have to work it out with the students so they don't expect me to be responding whenever the baby happens to come, plus my lab will be covered by other faculty when I have to disappear. I'm tenure track so there's a lot of pressure to maintain productivity. I'm nervous about having to do final grading 2-4 weeks after baby is born (assuming things happen "on time") but at least I won't lose any pay with this plan. Fingers crossed that things go smoothly and baby and I are healthy so my plan actually works.

    A year off would be nice (and it's going to be really tough to go to daycare in January when classes start up again) but I have to remind myself that we're lucky my husband and I both have good jobs and it really could be much worse. Better to deal with the situation as it is given than waste time wishing things were different.
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  • southernmama22southernmama22 member
    Ok! It seems that mine is more of the normal and I should just suck it up. I have some friends that have pretty amazing Mat leaves and was just comparing to them.
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  • bbiutmcphbbiutmcph member
    I just left my job but we had basically nothing.  If you were employed a year you qualified for FMLA.  It was unpaid.  You could use sick/vacation or if you purchased the STD policy thru the insurance you got that.  With my first two I saved every vacation and sick day and used that for leave both times.  


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  • smlowe9311smlowe9311 member
    I work for the school district and after a year you qualify for FMLA but it is unpaid unless you use sick time or have disability insurance. Right now I have about 7 days saved up but between dd1 getting sick and my getting food poisoning twice this year it won't be much more than that by the time baby comes. I'm grateful for the job and to have a job when I go back but having some pay would be nice!
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  • batmom05batmom05 member
    My company does 16 weeks total (the rest has to be used as fmla).

    We get 6 weeks full pay (12 for twins, 18 for triplets, etc) and then can take our sick/vacation time to extend pay. Anything else is unpaid.

    I'm taking 6 paid weeks, 4 weeks vacation, 2 weeks sick and then coming back. We also accrue sick and vacation time while we are out so that we come back with a balance, which is really nice.

    I will also do 3-4 weeks working from home prior to leave so I'm comfortable and don't need to come in the office.

    Dads also get 4 weeks paid and then can extend based on their banked vacation for a total of 8 consecutive weeks.

    I'm thankful my company is very generous with their policy!
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  • mrscookiequeenmrscookiequeen member
    Oh oh!! I also work for the federal government (us) and get NOTHING!! But.. my husband who works for a regular public company.. gets 8 WEEKS paternity leave. Lol!! I'm quitting so I don't really care at this point. Whoever said being a fed. Employee was awesome.. was obviously not a federal employee.
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  • VioletandRoseVioletandRose member
    I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. I know for sure I can take 12 weeks paid, made up of sick time (6-8 weeks depending on delivery method, which I have banked), the rest (considered "baby bonding time") I must use my vacation time. Although, all co-workers in recent years have taken 16 weeks with their babies...my company has an expectant parent workshop this month, and I need to clarify with them. All I know so far is based on our employee manual, but some policies are hard to understand. So in a nutshell, definitely 12 weeks, possibly 16.
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  • eat111315eat111315 member
    When I worked it was the 6weeks disability at 60%. They screwed you out of a week though since disability doesn't kick in for the first week so it was really 5 weeks. Unfortunately this also seems to be a standard practice.

    Also, while not working (I took the 12 weeks) I had to pay my health insurance. Not the the $12 or whatever a week I normally paid but the full amount that the company contributed.

    Make sure you all talk to hr sooner rather than later. There were a few things that popped up that I would've never thought to even ask!
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  • devonsd315devonsd315 member
    For all you federal employees out there, just FYI... if you are willing to go unpaid, you can take all your saved leave, and then invoke your FMLA and get 12 more weeks unpaid. So technically you can be out for longer than 12 weeks. Luckily my boss is letting me go part time from home, otherwise I would be going longer unpaid.
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  • syounkersyounker member
    We get 12 weeks with full pay. I'm pretty lucky.
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  • BlinkbabyBlinkbaby member
    I can use up all banked sick time (I've been there 5 years so I have about 3 weeks worth), vacation and personal days at full pay. Then generally 6 weeks at 60%, however since I'm having a c-section I'll get 12 weeks of 60% pay, then 6 weeks of unpaid.

    It's not as good as Canada or Europe, but it's not bad at all. I get a salary plus bonuses and they average my bonuses into the 60% which will help too.
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  • jenspeakejenspeake member
    Well....if my husband would have decided to try to have a baby about four weeks sooner then I could have gotten on STD.  So now I'm trying to take absolutely no PTO as I have to use that if I want any paid time off.  Since I've been with my employer for over a year I qualify for FMLA.  I get the guaranteed 6-8 weeks off dependent upon if I have a vaginal or c-section birth.  I can take up to 12 weeks but some would be unpaid.  They are being cool about my PTO though and I don't have to take a full 40 hours each week.  I have 32 days built up.  They will let me take 32 hours a week so I can stretch it out a little longer if I want.  I think regardless if I go early or not (due Oct 13th) I would like to go back after Thanksgiving.  What you stated above it pretty standard!  I think you're pretty lucky if you work somewhere that has paid Maternity Leave!
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  • Sweet Sadie MaeSweet Sadie Mae member
    I've tried posting twice to this board but both times it didn't work so I'm testing and if it works I'm trying one more time.
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  • dariamarchiondadariamarchionda member
    I'm taking 12 weeks. None paid. I work for a small business with no benefits.
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  • haamsandwichhaamsandwich member
    Up to four weeks STD - I'll only take two since my pay will be cut in half. Then I can work from home for 10 weeks. Definitely could be worse.
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  • ChariZaeChariZae member
    I just started at my school, so I will have about 10 days paid. I can take up to 12, but it will be unpaid.
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  • saveinsincitysaveinsincity member
    At my current job I get nothing since I have not worked for 12months. So if I wanted and felt like it I would be expected back on day after delivery.
    No fmla either. So I pretty much leave with no guarantee of a job or income. Which is very hard during what is expected to be the bonding time with a lil one.

    So DH is on the hunt for 2nd job to compensate my income

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  • jlculpepsjlculpeps member
    12 weeks unpaid FMLA...You can take any PTO you have saved, but I have been at the company a little over a year and with all the time I have had to take off for doctor appointments throughout pregnancy, my PTO won't be much.
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  • csy2947csy2947 member
    Another fed. I will have 16 weeks of annual/sick saved up by the end of the year. Plan on taking 16 weeks at half pay so I don't clean out my vacation. I have been saving up annual and sick leave though for 4 years knowing I wanted to have a baby as soon as I got married. My office would let me take up to 6 months I think if I wanted. I'll probably telework for weeks 16-20.

    Although it sucks that as a fed we get zip PTO for maternity, most offices are super flexible about letting you be out for however long you want. It's really hard to fire a fed.
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  • cgummiecgummie member
    dariamarchionda said:

    I'm taking 12 weeks. None paid. I work for a small business with no benefits.

    This is me, too. I've been there for 5+ years and since I'm not covered under FMLA, I have zero job security and I will not be returning. They offered me 10 weeks unpaid, and at the time I could return I am not guaranteed any hours. Thanks to a lot of saving, we can afford for me to be home for a while.

    While small business are great in some respects, all that I've worked for aren't good for the employees. No insurance, no leave, no paid sick days, etc. I know not all larger comapies offer all this, but I won't be looking for a position in a small business again.
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  • jennifercurry1jennifercurry1 member
    6 weeks 60% pay, then 6 weeks unpaid unless I have PTO to use after the first 6. Just depends on what happens! The last 6 unpaid will suck, but I want as much time as I can to be home with the baby until daycare has to take over :(
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  • Beccas387Beccas387 member
    Mines the same! The 60% is t taxed though so it almost comes or to be have I would have made anyway. The second 6 weeks I'm trying to save up for now to take unpaid to save the earned time.
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  • rhiannonbacarhiannonbaca member
    My job is for a small company that doesn't need to abide by FMLA (we don't have a lot of employees) so I get nothing. No paid anything, at all. I am planning on saving money to take the 12 weeks, especially since I already know i have to have a c section, but it really depends on what financial situation he hubs and I are in. We only get 10 days total sick time for the entire year and I used half during my first trimester since I was so sick. I am thankful that my boss will even let me take 12 weeks off without letting me go :)
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  • christina4436christina4436 member
    That's what our hourly employees have at my company. For salary is 6 weeks 100% paid (8if csection) and 6 unpaid. You can apply vaca time to the last 6 weeks which I plan to use my 4 weeks so I will technically get paid for 10.
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  • Nicole02683Nicole02683 member
    My school sadly, gives me nothing. I'll take 12 weeks unless there are issues. Unpaid of corse.....Oh the joys of being a woman in America......
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  • mrsdobbiemrsdobbie member
    I am in Canada. Where I work I get 17 weeks topped up to 95%(after a 2 week waiting period) of my salary and then the rest of the year is 55% unemployment insurance. I could take an extra year while keeping my job secure but I would get no unemployment insurance.
    I can't believe most of you ladies only get 12 weeks off. That really sucks! I know a lot of the places where I live daycares/day homes will not take a baby younger than a year (some even 1.5 years!) Is it hard to find child care in the US for that reason?
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  • gogracegograce member
    I'm lucky enough to have my mom willing to watch my baby when I go back to work, so I'm not looking into childcare. When I drive past some daycares, @mrsdobbie, I see signs advertising they take babies as young as six weeks.
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  • vamomtobevamomtobe member
    devonsd315 said:
    saintpaulJess said:

    I work for the federal government (U.S), so nothing.  New mothers cobble together some sick leave and annual leave, if they have it.  Otherwise, it's unpaid under FMLA.


    edit: spelling

    This is me as well. You can get forwarded up to six weeks of sick leave if you don't have that much, but then you have to work to pay it back, which could take up to three years. And then if you've saved up six weeks of annual leave (the most you can carry over year to year) you can use all of it to get six more weeks paid. But then you come back with no leave. 

    I will take all of my sick leave (probably 5 weeks saved up), have the rest forwarded or hopefully donated, and then take all of my annual leave (about 4 weeks). I will also go unpaid for probably a month before I come back for about 14 weeks off. All in all it's not bad, for the US :(
    I'm a fed, too - I would have liked to have my kids closer together in age, but I waited until I had enough leave saved up so I don't lose any payI got really sick last winter and ended up with pneumonia and totally zeroed out my sick leave, so it took longer than expected!  We get pretty good benefits overall, so I hate to complain, but I do find it unfair that women lose huge chunks of their accrued leave (which has implications for retirement!) if they want to take maternity leave.
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  • VioletandRoseVioletandRose member
    mrsdobbie said:
    I know a lot of the places where I live daycares/day homes will not take a baby younger than a year (some even 1.5 years!) Is it hard to find child care in the US for that reason?
    Unfortunately (or fortunately), no. Almost every daycare accepts infants because most working moms have to go back to work anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months. One year is basically unheard of.
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  • mbyoungmbyoung member
    I have to use my sick days and any personal time.  After that is used, my leave will be unpaid.  I am a teach and will be taking approximately 9 weeks off.  Some of my time off will fall in our Thanksgiving and Christmas break, so lucky I will not loose pay for that period of time.  
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