I know there have already been discussions on this, but they were awhile ago...
I just found out I literally have ZERO maternity leave. I'm a nurse practitioner in a very large medical practice (hundreds of employees and over 200 doctors/NPs/PA) and apparently I do not qualify for FMLA because I only work part-time. My company offers NO maternity leave outside of FMLA. I was instructed by HR to come to an agreement with my fellow physician about my maternity leave. Luckily, she is a woman with two children and very reasonable. She was also fairly taken aback by this. We agreed I will take 12 weeks and we can reassess whether I need more or less. Per my company's non-policy this will all be without pay. Ughhhhh.
Thanks for anyone who read that whole rant. I understand my situation is not unique and many people have it even worse than I do, at least I am allowed to take off the time I feel I need.
ETA: I now realize this should probably go in the Bitchfest Monday thread. Apologies.
Re: F-U "maternity leave"
Definitely do this.
And I'm so sorry. My maternity leave situation blows also. It's such a shame.
DST T4L
'MERICA!
DD born June 2016
Second due August 2020 (team green!)
Telemedicine! It's a real thing. Convince them you're being a technological pioneer.
I'm in a position where I'll get 12 weeks and I telecommute so I have more flexibility with keeping a baby at home. Unfortunately I don't qualify for short term disability or get any pay those 12 weeks. I'll take what I can get, though.
I'm lucky and I'm not complaining, but the hypocrisy is appalling. It was brought to our CEOs attention and the response was "we have a very generous family leave policy". Do as I say not as I do, I guess.
Mine was an opt-in, paid on top of my regular insurance. But it will be worth it now. It also comes from a company endorsed by my employer and it comes out of my paycheck. You will have to check that the employer and short term disability people will work together- mine does not accept Aflac and a few people have been screwed over because of that.
In Canada, unions were instrumental in fighting for our leave...somehow that change needs to happen for you all soon.
It's awful though because we're a tech company that help businesses setup telecommutes for their employees, but they won't let me work from home. All the males in the company can (and one female) but not my department.
I couldn't nurse with my first either because they wanted all my pumping time to be unpaid and to make it up that same day. With a two hour commute for the day and a 9 hour shift, adding on an extra hour or so is a recipe for disaster. I plan to go on leave and never return there.
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20