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May 2015 Moms
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MATERNITY LEAVE (FMLA and UNUM)

JazzJustJazzJazzJustJazz member
in May 2015 Moms
I work in Washington, D.C. FMLA gave me 16 weeks. I had a C-Section so I was approved to be paid for 8 weeks. (8 weeks remaining without pay...Totally fine by me). Last week when I called my job they told me I would have to use the rest of my personal leave for work and I didn't understand why. They told me it was a corporate thing.. Has anyone else been through this?? What the hell is going in?? This means I'll return to work with no leave. If my son has an appt I won't be able to take him.. ughh. Help.. :-S
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Re: MATERNITY LEAVE (FMLA and UNUM)

  • cassietegtmeiercassietegtmeier member
    The way I understand it is if you filled out the paperwork to take 16 weeks and were approved you have to take it unless you have a doctors note stating you can return to work early.
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  • JazzJustJazzJazzJustJazz member
    I'm taking the 16 weeks but I don't understand why I have to use my personal leave from work (sick days, vacation days). That should be separate from my maternity leave.
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  • saric83saric83 member
    That is indeed something they can do with FMLA. The employee can choose to use it (if you don't want to do it unpaid), but any company also has the right to require you use your hours.
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  • danibonellodanibonello member
    Yep I had to use up all of my sick and vacation (which is okay with me because I'm not returning to work).... it sucks but I knew about it from the first conversation I had with my HR department so I had time to plan. The crappiest part is that it coincided with the FMLA time so it's not even like using my leave gave me extra time. (Again doesnt really matter... but I would be disappointed if I was going back).
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  • jowen0606jowen0606 member
    I believe you should call corporate. I took my sick time just so I could have an extra paycheck, but I kept my vacation time just in case baby gets sick.
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  • Symone51Symone51 member
    Aw that doesn't sound right to me!
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  • smashbaby111smashbaby111 member
    My company also requires use of PTO during leave, definitely a bummer to come back with nothing
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  • montanchelsymontanchelsy member
    I am also required to use my sick/PTO pay while on leave.
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  • nursej519nursej519 member
    My company also requires this, except I can keep one week banked up, no more.
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  • ali0608ali0608 member
    Does it matter if the unpaid time us now or sporadic when you need it for appointments? I don't see the difference.

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  • JenGrl8503JenGrl8503 member
    Because she is using up her FMLA time now, unpaid time off later for appoints won't be protected time off and realistically she could lose her job for taking the unpaid time off :/
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  • JazzJustJazzJazzJustJazz member
    That sucks!! I thought by opting for the 16 weeks and knowing that the remaining 8 weeks after UNUM'S approval was fine. Maybe I don't understand this. .
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  • kspinks7kspinks7 member
    I have the same problem! I will be going back to work with no time off as well. It is a worry if something happens but it seems there is nothing I can do. I am so glad I had the time with my girl that I try to not worry the unknown potential needed time off in the future.
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  • JazzJustJazzJazzJustJazz member
    kspinks7 said:

    I have the same problem! I will be going back to work with no time off as well. It is a worry if something happens but it seems there is nothing I can do. I am so glad I had the time with my girl that I try to not worry the unknown potential needed time off in the future.

    I don't understand any of this. I'll call corporate tomorrow and get things squared away.

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  • ali0608ali0608 member
    JenGrl8503 said:

    Because she is using up her FMLA time now, unpaid time off later for appoints won't be protected time off and realistically she could lose her job for taking the unpaid time off :/

    This is a good point. I didn't really think of that. I'm in teaching so this doesn't seem likely unless they had another reason to want to get rid of you.

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