Maternity leave options

BMG2013 · November 2016

Although things are still in the early stage, I have been starting to think about maternity leave options. I work for an extremely small start up company in NJ (only 3 full-time employees) that does not provide benefits of any sort. Since we are so small, we do not fall into the category for FMLA benefits. I have not yet told my boss that I am pregnant (I am only 5 weeks, 2 days along so don't plan on saying anything for a while) but am concerned about either losing my job or going completely unpaid during my time off...if she offers it.

I want to make sure I'm not confused, so if anyone can help me clear this up I would appreciate it. Legally speaking, I have to be able to take a certain amount of unpaid maternity leave, correct? Are there any other options when working for such a small company? Thanks ladies!

awillis13 · November 2016

I believe those legal maternity leave time frames are there because of FMLA. If your company is too small to fall into that category, I don't know what sort of security/benefits you would have available. But maybe someone who is more well-versed in these areas would have more info. Massachusetts has it's own MLA policies that I believe apply to all businesses so you might need to look into what the NJ regs are in that area.

GoogleMD · November 2016

No, since your company has only 3 employees they are not legally obligated to hold your job. it sucks. many employers will keep their employee because it is hard to find good employees and then train them.

Eta: some progressive states have additional laws to protect employees like MA, and CA.

abmommy15 · November 2016

I could be wrong but I think NJ has a state program that allows 6 weeks.

BMG2013 · November 2016

abmommy15 said:

I could be wrong but I think NJ has a state program that allows 6 weeks.

6 weeks unpaid, right? I don't know why I keep finding conflicting information so this has gotten me confused! Thanks for weighing in!

glitterfish-2 · November 2016

As far as I know, yes the vast majority of maternity leave is unpaid in the US. Start saving up!

PAengineer06 · November 2016

There is also individual short term disability offered in some states, that pays part or all of your income during maternity leave, but they usually have an exclusionary period of 1-3 months before you conceive, so in other words you have to sign up before you know for sure you will need it.

A good employer will recognize that it's likely cheaper to offer you some maternity leave vs. hiring a new employee. If they fired you, it would still take them a couple months to find your replacement and unlike you, they wouldn't be able to hit the ground running.

SpongeWorthy · November 2016

@BMG2013 That is a tough situation. I'm hoping you can work out something that is beneficial for everyone. Like PPs have said, your employer should recognize that it's much less expensive to keep you on board than to hire and train someone new. FX for good results.

What kind of maternity leave benefits do you all have through your employer (if any)? I work for my small family business, and we don't have any set time off or vacation policies. Right now everyone pretty much takes time off when they want to. I want to see what kind of options other people have so when I tell my boss (my uncle) we can come up with a reasonable plan. Everyone in the business is a generation older than me, so they haven't had to deal with maternity leave before.

SaphireSweetie88 · November 2016

I have to sit down with HR to be sure but I think I get 6 weeks

longhairdntcare · November 2016

Unfortunately, my company doesn't offer any paid maternity leave. We are large enough that FMLA protects my job though. I started paying into a short term disability plan earlier this year because I knew we would be trying soon. I think that gives me 6-8 weeks (depending on vaginal or C section birth) at 60% pay. Better than nothing I guess.

Really I think all you can do is sit down with HR and pray they will save your job. Depending on their reaction, you could be flexible and offer to work from home for a few hours a week after delivery? I would also look into a private short term disability plan, but I know most require you to enroll BEFORE becoming pregnant.

PAengineer06 · November 2016

I work for a small employer and they pay for a short term disability policy that pays for 6 weeks at 2/3 salary. However we are too small to fall under FMLA so my job isn't necessarily protected. My state (PA) does seem to have a law which protects me from getting fired during maternity leave, but I would definitely feel better if I had FMLA protection. I had to use FMLA leave two years ago and it was comforting to have a procedure and paperwork in place so that me, my boss, and HR were all on the same page.

knit-sew-mama · November 2016

I get FMLA for up to 12 weeks and I can use my accrued sick/personal days to help me get paid for some of it. I've been in the district 4 and a half years now so I have an okay amount saved up. I do need to find out some specifics like if I go on maternity leave for the start of the year do I get those sick and personal days for the 2017-2018 school year or do I have to wait until I'm back? Not sure...we'll find out.

lamphele · November 2016

I'm a teacher in Texas, so I'll get 6 weeks of unpaid leave. Luckily, baby will be born at the end of summer, so I should only need to take 3 weeks to make it to 6 weeks old. I get 10 sick days a year and as long as I save 5 days this year, my maternity leave is covered by sick level. Though, any other sick days I take throughout next school year will result in docked pay.

JmUDuuuukes 07 · November 2016

Sorry you're in a tough situation. I'm sure you're nervous because you want to be able to take guilt free time while not impacting their business too much. They may be totally cool about it, and they may not. either way, try to squirrel as much money away now as you can. Tell them when you're ready to and see if they can give you any flexibility- like returning part time earlier than you may have originally hoped, but at least still having a job. not sure what you do, but maybe offer to put in a couple of hours here or there in terms of overtime before you go too. good luck!

cmd723-z · November 2016

I work for a large company so I am protected by FMLA. We don't have a maternity plan per say but it is a "disability" plan set in place (can be a dangerous job) that also covers maternity. We get full pay for 8 weeks and if a doctor deems necessary up to 12 weeks. But after that I believe it goes down to 60% up to 20 weeks on "long term" job protected disability. Kind of confusing but to sum it up 8 weeks guaranteed paid time off for maternity leave.

dancegurl1118 · November 2016

Barring any preterm complications I'll be taking 16 weeks...4 of those are paid at 60% and then the rest is supposed to be covered by whatever PTO I have even though a maxed out PTO bank only covers 7 weeks. So I'll be unpaid for the rest.

Ahhh the luxurious life of a woman of childbearing age in the USA!

RobinaCee · November 2016

I can't imagine going back to work after only 6 weeks! Here in Canada it's a year off. Even myself as a surrogate gets 15 weeks maternity leave .

GoogleMD · November 2016

I will be taking 12 weeks FMLA which is covered 100% and then 4 weeks PTO so 4 months total

longhairdntcare · November 2016

I am so jealous of the Canadian residents we have on here.

@GoogleMD FMLA isn't paid though..

krys-2 · November 2016

My heart just hurts for those of you that have to worry about this sort of thing on top of everything else. I am very thankful that my company gives any employee that has been here more than 1 year a full 12 week paid leave, and will also let us leverage PTO to extend if we'd like. I've been stockpiling PTO hours and have about 200 (we max at 240), and I'll accrue another 140 before baby is here...so even taking a few weeks off between now and then, I'll have another 6 weeks to play with if I decide to.

LoveLee85 · November 2016

I already stay at home with my son, so no outside the house job to go back to. But, before you say how lucky I am, I'll be dealing with a 20 month old and an infant nonstop alone because DH only gets 3 unpaid days off work. It's awful. So by the time I'm out of the hospital he's back at work nonstop to support us. I'm honestly so nervous for how I'm going to manage. I had complications after birth that ended in surgery 5 weeks after giving birth to DS. DH didn't get any time off and I was alone caring for myself after birth and surgery and trying to care for a 5 weeks old. It was horrible. It's giving me anxiety on how I'll manage all this.

SpongeWorthy · November 2016

Thank you ladies for all your insight! My main takeaway is maternity leave runs the gamut lol. So many different scenarios out there. I'm hoping I can take at least 12 weeks off at some level of pay, then start working part time from home, although that's probably easier said than done. DH also plans to "bank" time at work, essentially work extra hours now and then take those hours off after the baby comes. I think we'll be able to work something out.

@RobinaCee I'm so jealous of your awesome maternity leave! IMO we all deserve it.
@LoveLee85 That is a terrible situation. So sorry the anxiety is already starting to affect you. FX for an easier delivery this time around.

hqinmd · November 2016

@LoveLee85 Your husband's job isn't protected by FMLA?

LoveLee85 · November 2016

hqinmd said:

@LoveLee85 Your husband's job isn't protected by FMLA?

He wasn't employed with the company long enough to qualify! It was awful. If he wanted to keep his job he couldn't get more than the 3 days they 'gifted' him. They didn't even have to do that apparently. He didn't have sick time or vacation time or FMLA options yet. And sadly, nobody I guess realized so zero family ever offered to come over and help me out.

Eta: I nearly gave birth at home because I was so scared to have a false alarm, because if he had to leave work, that false alarm time would have counted against the 3 days!!!

LoveLee85 · November 2016

Also, if FMLA is unpaid like I think it is, we won't be taking any of it or much of it. Someone has to work to pay the bills.

eta: he will have sick days and vacation days by that point that are all 100% paid. So even if we don't use unpaid FMLA, it will be more than 3 days off. So that's a big positive.

It sucks how much American policies don't care about women's rights and giving birth.

flipflopped · November 2016

I have the option for 6 months leave, but only will get paid sick for 6-8 weeks (depending on delivery) and for any other leave a I have a max of 50 days. My goal is to take off from delivery (7/19EDD) to mid-December, but not use all my leave so I don't come back and have nothing. This will put me with 5-6 weeks unpaid, which I have already saved for.

Edit- I'm in the US and have a company that goes beyond FMLA

chiquita928 · November 2016

I'll be going back to school in September. DH is on disability, so someone has to work for health insurance and the mortgage payment. I did the same with DS. He was 7 weeks old. It was rough, but we made it. Each school holiday made me feel better about going back so soon. Plus, the hours are pretty good for family time. I know there were a few FTMs who are teachers worried about going back so soon. We made it, and it can work out!

GoogleMD · November 2016

Rae. said:

I am so jealous of the Canadian residents we have on here.

@GoogleMD FMLA isn't paid though..

My employer pays 100% of the 12 weeks protected by FMLA the additional time is paid through PTO

lamphele · November 2016

This will be my shortest time staying home with one of my kids. My first was born in January and I was unemployed until the next school year, so I was with her for 8 months. My second was born in May, so I took 11 days off before summer vacation started, so she was 3 months old when I went back to work. The timing just doesn't work out this time. Though, my husband said if I somehow end up with twins in there then I can quit my job.

Creedon778 · November 2016

I'm very blessed my company allows for 6 months leave paid at 100%. A few weeks of that is PTO. I hope more companies go that direction.

LoveLee85 · November 2016

flipflopped said:

I have the option for 6 months leave, but only will get paid sick for 6-8 weeks (depending on delivery) and for any other leave a I have a max of 50 days. My goal is to take off from delivery (7/19EDD) to mid-December, but not use all my leave so I don't come back and have nothing. This will put me with 5-6 weeks unpaid, which I have already saved for.
Edit- I'm in the US and have a company that goes beyond FMLA

That's rare! Consider yourself one of a lucky few in the US.

BMG2013 · November 2016

It's so interesting to read the variety of options and situations that everyone has! I am hoping I can work part-time from home after the baby is born so at least my boss might be willing to pay me something while I'm out. I have been saving like crazy but it's stressful to know that I will have work related issues hanging over my head as I try to enjoy time with my first child. Luckily my husband has a good job that we receive great benefits from, so that won't be affected at all. Crossing my fingers that all goes well when I tell my boss in a few weeks!

longhairdntcare · November 2016

GoogleMD said:

Rae. said:

I am so jealous of the Canadian residents we have on here.

@GoogleMD FMLA isn't paid though..

My employer pays 100% of the 12 weeks protected by FMLA the additional time is paid through PTO

Dang i am jealous!! That is awesome!

flipflopped · November 2016

@lovelee85 I know!! Pension, reasonable benefits and lots of flexibility are worth so much more than money.

LuLiLaEv · November 2016

My company just changed their policy from 13 weeks to 16 weeks and it's 100% of our pay. We don't have to use our vacation first so if I save all my sick/vacation days I could be off for about 5 months!! I can't wait!

LADY324 · November 2016

Hi I also live in NJ pregnant with #2 with my first I def got 6 weeks paid through the state it is called the NJ bonding leave. You can look it up on the state site and even give them a call.

dancegurl1118 · November 2016

Once I win powerball I'm going to take a permanent maternity leave.

AdaByron · November 2016

Jealous of people who get to take 12 weeks off. I'm a teacher, and it's sort of frowned upon here to take more than 6 weeks off (8 if you have a c-section). I'm fortunate enough that 3 weeks would be paid, and the other 3 weeks can be covered by my PTO. Legally, I could take 6 more weeks unpaid and they would have to hold my job, but I am the only AP Calculus teacher and it's not likely that they'll find a sub that can fill in there, so I'll be back to work at the 6 week mark. Depending on when baby arrives, I may miss a couple of days the first week of school in August, or I might not miss any time at all.

LoveLee85 · December 2016

flipflopped said:

@lovelee85 I know!! Pension, reasonable benefits and lots of flexibility are worth so much more than money.

It truly is!! My DH makes great money, all the overtime he could want if we need it, but it's not flexible at all. He has a very demanding job. We are grateful that we can afford for me to stay home(good day care/home care are a thousand a month in our area-so it also makes sense for me to stay home), but a more flexible job would be a game changer for him(in a good way).

flipflopped · December 2016

@lovelee85 DH's job is fairly similiar and it is so hard at times.

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