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October 2015 Moms
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Maternity leave = a joke at my job. Rant.

bgriestbgriest member
in October 2015 Moms
I'm so irritated right now. I'm trying to set up my maternity leave to begin on my due date of October 12th. Therefore my last full day of work would be Friday the 9th.

My lovely job that loves to boast about their amazing benefits refuses to let me do this. They said I cannot pre-set up my maternity leave and that if I have not had the baby by October 12th then I am expected to come to work on October 12th.

Everything with this company and their maternity leave has been a hassle, bare minimum and a joke. Yet this company prides themselves on being so wonderful. For a huge medical practice they are pathetic with the way they run things.

End rant.
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Re: Maternity leave = a joke at my job. Rant.

  • Sweet Sadie MaeSweet Sadie Mae member
    I don't know much about maternity leave. My company is so small that they don't even offer it. BUT I feel like it should be your choice when you are able to start your maternity leave but I guess because it's their money providing you it's up to them. Sorry for your frustrations.
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  • bgriestbgriest member
    They aren't paying anything. I have to use all my vacation and sick time to get paid and then I have 4 weeks STD. They aren't providing any pay technically.
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  • smlowe9311smlowe9311 member
    I don't understand how they can say when you can start your leave. Can your doctor provide a note saying you need leave to start then?
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  • babyvelasquez2015babyvelasquez2015 member
    Your doctor can put you on disability up to four weeks prior to due date at what's best for you. Definitely talk to your doctor asap about your plan when to leave and your work must follow.
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  • satori15satori15 member
    Have your doctor fill out paperwork for your leave. They probably even have a form at the practice they can use. With medical authorization you should be able to start before your due date.
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  • jenspeakejenspeake member
    Are you using PTO for any of your leave?  If you I would think you could start that at any time.
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  • crbpjbcrbpjb member
    I wanted to keep working until I deliver (whether I pass my due date or not), and they wouldn't let me.  My maternity leave starts Nov 2 baby or no baby.  The bummer for me is burning sick days while I miserably wait for baby to arrive.  However, I do know that many women leave work well before they deliver because doctors can very easily write a note saying you need to be done.  Most women I know have done this.
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  • wildbutterfli2001wildbutterfli2001 member
    If you aren't getting paid for it anyways you are still entitled to fmla. What if you were on bed rest? Not every woman is able to work up to their due date.
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  • leighann1leighann1 member
    My job is the same way, but a doctor's note will trump your company's desires. Talk with your doctor, as others have said. My guess is many would be willing to write a note of some sort to allow you rest before labor. 
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  • laceyjaeplaceyjaep member
    I just fail to understand any of this. Thankfully I work for a very flexible employer and even though my whole leave is without pay they are letting me determine when/how much time to take. It's crazy that your employer should get to determine that for you.
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  • MamaOwl15MamaOwl15 member
    I had a coworker at my old job go into labor at work . . . I wanted to make sure I didn't have the same thing happen to me, so I planned to start my maternity leave a week before my due date when I had my son. I would think your employer would WANT you to start your leave on a certain date so they'd be able to replace you (if needed) and wouldn't be scrambling to do so. If you ended up being at home with no baby for another week, it's your loss, not theirs. You'd only have 11 more weeks at home with baby, but in their end, you'd be out the same amount of them overall.


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  • jslikojsliko member
    My job (which is pretty great with leave) is the same way - 'maternity leave' (and therefore fmla) starts when labor starts. I actually think that is very common (in the US, at least). Now if I get put on bed rest before, then that would be long term disability. I'm glad it is that way - maximizes my fmla time with the baby, even if I need extended bedrest before.
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  • RaijapattersonRaijapatterson member
    It's called FMLA. Your dr can fill out the paperwork pretty easily and they can't dispute it whatsoever as long as you and your workplace meet the criteria. It is really easy to find it all out by a quick google search. Make sure you check for your particular state too because many offer excellent FMLA laws (oregon being pretty amazing compared to federal laws) I was an FMLA representative for my union when I worked for the railroad and they were in complete violation many times. Well worth checking out and important to know your rights as a parent! Good luck to you and your quest for enjoying time with your precious little baby! Best wishes
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  • ameares721ameares721 member
    I work for the state government and I got to choose my FML start date (also 10/12) and I haven't had any issues... My doctor signed my paperwork, but I could have sworn there was something mentioned about leave beginning prior to baby's arrival! I would think if your due date has come and gone with no baby that they would have some damn compassion! I mean really, 40+ is no walk in the park. Just curious - is it a man (or men) telling you this nonsense?!
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  • KLHauck12KLHauck12 member
    That's how my job was going to be (I ended up decided to quit & will be staying home and working my side job instead).
    I worked for a school as a teacher (but as a part time hourly teacher) and was told that I had to work right up until I gave birth to even be allowed to take a leave. I wasn't allowed to choose to take an earlier leave, even if it was unpaid & I used no personal or sick time, because long term leave was not in my contract. And on top of it, my maternity leave isn't even paid. The only way I could be paid was to use my sick pay.
    I might have dealt with it but the job really far away, they were unable to adjust/lower my hours to what I needed to avoid paying for daycare (which would have been my whole paycheck), and I was unhappy there. So I said, see ya!
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  • ilikestars089ilikestars089 member
    That's how it works in my school district :( They call it parental leave and I can't take it until I'm in labor or "actually a parent". Many teachers I know have gone to work on the day they had their baby! The leave specialist at HR said that if I get a doctors note, I can go on medical leave for the time before the baby comes... But I'd feel weird doing that if there's no actual medical emergency and I'm just tired. As a PP said, FMLA doesn't start until you go into labor. Also, some people may not be covered for FMLA depending on how long they've been an employee or how many hours per year they work. Another thing to consider if you are using your own paid time off is that you could potentially just be waiting for the baby to come for up to two weeks after your due date and using up time you could have with your little one (if you only have say 6 or 12 weeks total).

    I think you have options for sure if you are dead set on being off work before your due date! I'd suggest talking to your doctor and see if a medical note is even possible and then go from there with your company.
    Good luck!
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  • bgriestbgriest member
    I got my FMLA packet today which is what prompted me to email the lady in the first place. The paperwork states "you informed us that you needed leave beginning on October 12, 2015" and that I'm eligible for FMLA.

    So I wanted to make sure that I could start .y leave on the 12th with my last full day of work being the 9th.

    I received an email back stating that although I have indicated that I would like the 9th to be my last day that if on 10/12 I have not had the baby I am expected to be at work on 10/12.

    I can take FMLA but as far as pay goes I have to use all my PTO and STD and then go 7-8 weeks without pay since I'm taking the whole 12. That's fine since I knew this month's ago and pre-planned and saved money to pay my bills.

    I'm going to talk to my doctor at my next appointment and see if she will write me a note. With this being my first baby I'm fully expecting him to be like a week late and I'm okay with using a week of my maternity leave to just be home. After working 6 days a week for over 2 years having a few days and down time to rest beforehand is more than welcomed.
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  • bgriestbgriest member
    ameares721 said:

    I work for the state government and I got to choose my FML start date (also 10/12) and I haven't had any issues... My doctor signed my paperwork, but I could have sworn there was something mentioned about leave beginning prior to baby's arrival! I would think if your due date has come and gone with no baby that they would have some damn compassion! I mean really, 40+ is no walk in the park. Just curious - is it a man (or men) telling you this nonsense?!


    Haha if only. No, it's a woman and she's pretty rude and snippy. I almost sent a nasty email back to her but I stopped myself.
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  • lginnanlginnan member
    Yeah have your doctor write you a note. My job requires the same thing- think that is fairly standard. Although still annoying!!
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  • edavis926edavis926 member
    My maternity leave does not start until the day baby is born. But if my doctor pulls me earlier than that (or I ask her to like I'm planning on) I can take that time but it comes out of a different category and doesn't take away from my maternity. I would just ask them what if my doctor says I have to leave before baby is born and see what they say.
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  • bgriestbgriest member
    I guess I was just really surprised by that. My other job is much kinder and asking what I want to do/when I want to work until. Granted I'm only part time at my 2nd job but still....they're nicer lol
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  • heytallmamaheytallmama member
    I wish FMLA were required for all employers, not just those with a certain number of employees. We had ZERO maternity benefit when I approached my CEO about my pregnancy. As a mid-size non profit, there are about 20 employees, and about 18 are women. How did a maternity policy NOT exist?!

    I wound up essentially demanding 12 weeks in accordance with FMLA and requested unused vacation + sick from this FY to roll over so more of that time could be paid, because in addition to no maternity, they also have no short or long term disability benefits. I suppose the benefit to being as small as we are, those requests got approved by our board and now there's an actual maternity policy in place: 12 weeks off, 4 of that paid maternity leave, then you used your accrued PTO, and whatever's left is unpaid. Not too shabby. Still pisses me off I had to even do that because it wasn't a standard policy to start with.

    Now I'm trying to figure out how to handle the last week or so before my due date. I want to work up until I go into labor, and I can do so from home....but my supervisor doesn't like when people work from home "because they've never had people do it before." Um, ok. Well, I'm gonna need to, buddy. Unless you wanna drive me to the hospital when I go into labor at the office?! The suggestion to get a note from my MW is a good one- definitely gonna try that!!
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  • SarahAnne1101SarahAnne1101 member
    @lnord7 - that sounds like a pretty good plan. Seems like most places don't give any paid time.

    DH works for a start up. Employees consist of 2 coowners ( both men), DH, and a part time college female. When he went to them about time off, they had to google FMLA and the recovery time for birth. Neither of the guys are married or have children - both are in their late 30s), so it literally never occurred to them that it would be important. So ours is a total wing it kind of thing. 
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  • fithen13fithen13 member
    My job made me quit. They said I wasn't there for a year so I couldn't do FMLA and I couldn't use my vacation time. It's so stupid because by the time I took my leave I would have been there a year. Then they said if I came back I had to start over as a new hire. I told them to shove it.
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  • heytallmamaheytallmama member
    @fithen13 What the hell-- made you quit?! Pretty sure that's illegal! FMLA starts at the time your leave begins, if I'm not mistaken. Not when you announce your pregnancy. That's some serious bullshit- I'm so sorry that happened to you.
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  • leighann1leighann1 member
    lnord7 said:
    @fithen13 What the hell-- made you quit?! Pretty sure that's illegal! FMLA starts at the time your leave begins, if I'm not mistaken. Not when you announce your pregnancy. That's some serious bullshit- I'm so sorry that happened to you.
    Yes. Absolutely illegal. Not that you'd want to work for a bunch of a-holes like that, but seriously illegal. I would file a complaint with your state labor board, if for nothing else than to make them sweat. 
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  • maiatenemaiatene member
    Most jobs are like this but it also depends on your managers. My first pregnancy my bosses let me stop working two weeks prior to my due date but my mat leave didn't start until birth day. It made a huge difference because I got a lot done and was able to relax. This time I have new bosses and are the complete opposite! I'm working from home and 99% of the baby stuff is done so I don't see the need to stop work prior, but I will slow down the week before if I feel the need. Maybe it's semantics, you won't start leave but you won't work 8 hour days...
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  • bgriestbgriest member
    fithen13 said:

    My job made me quit. They said I wasn't there for a year so I couldn't do FMLA and I couldn't use my vacation time. It's so stupid because by the time I took my leave I would have been there a year. Then they said if I came back I had to start over as a new hire. I told them to shove it.

    That's bullshit! I agree with @leighann1!
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  • shantyraeshantyrae member
    Unfortunately FMLA only applies to companies with 60 employees or more, so many small companies don't even have to comply!
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