I'm in a different sort of situation, because I'll be leaving one job at the beginning of maternity leave, and starting a new one when I return. This has been in the works since before I got pregnant, but that also means I had two bosses to tell.
Has anyone asked to work from home one day a week? I'm pretty sure that my new job would be able to accommodate it, but there is no general college policy on working from home.
@PurplePumpernickel Do you have a sense of the new departmental culture? At my uni it would not be a major deal but I imagine it varies from place to place. I requested to use sick leave for a course release to take off one day a week, which I realize is a slightly different situation.
I have to go back to work August 21, or 6 weeks after the baby is born (whichever is later) so I'm toying with the idea of scheduling an induction as early as my doctor will let me. Baby is already measuring a week ahead, so I'm thinking he'll let me go at 39 weeks especially if I have the beetus again.
@Clio My "new" boss (who used to be my old boss, long story) had already mentioned that I could bring the baby to work occasionally if I needed to. I get a sense that this department is far more relaxed than where I currently work, but I don't know how much to push, given that this is technically a new position.
I have to go back to work August 21, or 6 weeks after the baby is born (whichever is later) so I'm toying with the idea of scheduling an induction as early as my doctor will let me. Baby is already measuring a week ahead, so I'm thinking he'll let me go at 39 weeks especially if I have the beetus again.
This is absolutely zero judgment on you. I would do the same in your case.
But reading this makes me want to f'ing SCREAM. That the US is one of two freaking countries in the world that does not give a single day of paid leave. That it is a perfectly normal and acceptable thing to push women into a forced labor/medical intervention so her child can be born in a timeframe that fits going back to work fast enough - 6 freaking weeks after birth. I just cannot even with the backwardness of our government and social values that have enabled this situation. I know we all do what we gotta do...and you sound fine with it...but I am so sorry you're put into that situation. It's absolutely ridiculous.
I hope everyone includes "contacting your representatives about family leave benefits" in their maternity leave plans. So many posts on this thread are heartbreaking.
And empowering. Some strong, badass mamas on here, figuring out the system and doing what they gotta.
I have to go back to work August 21, or 6 weeks after the baby is born (whichever is later) so I'm toying with the idea of scheduling an induction as early as my doctor will let me. Baby is already measuring a week ahead, so I'm thinking he'll let me go at 39 weeks especially if I have the beetus again.
This is absolutely zero judgment on you. I would do the same in your case.
But reading this makes me want to f'ing SCREAM. That the US is one of two freaking countries in the world that does not give a single day of paid leave. That it is a perfectly normal and acceptable thing to push women into a forced labor/medical intervention so her child can be born in a timeframe that fits going back to work fast enough - 6 freaking weeks after birth. I just cannot even with the backwardness of our government and social values that have enabled this situation. I know we all do what we gotta do...and you sound fine with it...but I am so sorry you're put into that situation. It's absolutely ridiculous.
I hope everyone includes "contacting your representatives about family leave benefits" in their maternity leave plans. So many posts on this thread are heartbreaking.
And empowering. Some strong, badass mamas on here, figuring out the system and doing what they gotta.
End rant. Sorrynotsorry.
Yeah, I actually work in a place that is very family friendly in other ways. I have tons of sick time, but I'm only allowed to use 3 weeks of it for maternity leave (and I get 3 weeks paid without using PTO) and then I have to come back to work. I could go to 8 weeks I had a C-section. There are TONS of moms here with young children, but I'm the only one I know of that uses a daycare center. Sending your 6 week old baby to daycare is a lot different than leaving them home with dad or grandma at 6 weeks. And the daycare won't take them until 6 weeks, so there will be no opportunity to "ease in" to daycare by starting with half days or anything like that. It really just sucks.
I think having a scheduled induction is the best choice for me for several other reasons, so I'm fine with that aspect of it
I'm planning to take the full standard maternity leave (12 weeks unpaid), and hopefully going back to work at least part time after that. The nature of my job gives me the ability to work from home, which is my dream at this point, but it hasn't been set in stone. I brought it up to my manager when I announced to him, and he seemed open to the possibility so I am praying for that. Also they are looking to hire another person in my department (admin) soon, so I'm not worried about the work load being covered, as we'll have enough people by then to run the daily operations smoothly, whether or not someone is absent from work. We just found out that DH gets 3 weeks paid leave for the baby so that'll be a huge blessing.
I'm taking 12 weeks. I am hoping to work until I go into labor assuming I am able to do so. DH does not get paid paternity leave. This was a bit shocking to me since he works for an large energy conglomerate and generally speaking has amazing benefits. Assuming there are no complications with the baby or my recovery, he will take a week to 10 days off so we can bond as a family. My mom is planning to fly down once I go into labor to help as well then DH's parents will come sometime after she leaves.
Since I work at a small firm I am trying to schedule hearings and deadlines around my leave to ease the burden on my coworkers. The only issue with this is I either frontload it before I give birth or put it off until October when I am just coming back to work and will undoubtedly be exhausted and overwhelmed. Neither seem like appealing options.
I need to do this, too. And same with DH, he doesn't get paid paternity either - but I don't think women get paid maternity leave there either, which is shocking to me.
So I told my boss pretty early (11 weeks maybe?). She is great and a working mom of three herself so she gets it. I know she will be flexible. And she loves me and knows how much work I do. She has already made some comments (jokingly) like "I'll be pissed if you quit after your leave". Which I won't, we need my income right now. And she's taking steps to try to keep me happy, which is appreciated.
BUT, there's another manager (higher than me) in another department who had a baby last year and has been stretching her leave out (working part-time). I am not sure on the details of how long she took off and how long she plans to stretch it out, but she messed something up the other day and my boss went on a little rant about how annoying it is that she's stretching her leave and only working part time. She made some comments about 'I don't understand why she can't just take her X weeks then come back full time". Ugh, that is kind of what I had planned to do for my leave, guess it's frowned upon.
I honestly don't know what I'll do. There's no way I can take 12 week fully off. The person that works under me is...not great. And I don't trust him to handle my projects. I feel like it will stress me out more knowing he's messing things up than it will for me to come back earlier.
I wouldn't rule that out and I'd probably address that head on (e.g. "let's talk about how to mitigate any misunderstanding/how can we make sure we're closing the loop on x,y, and z" etc)
I work full time from home, and manage the company by myself, so I will have to train someone to fill in for me and then just hope they aren't efficient enough to take over my job for less than the company owner pays me haha. Last time my boss only wanted to give me 4 weeks off, but thank God my doctor gave me 6 weeks of disability. This time, I'm sure my boss will do the same and I can't afford too much time off anyway, so 6 week max for me too. Hopefully a relative or friend can help me with the kids for a few months though so that I don't have to do the daycare thing with my 6-week old. I just don't like the sound of that.
I get 16 weeks total for anything related to pregnancy and leave. And it's only 16 weeks in a 24 month period, so if I have complications and need to be out earlier than June 2 (DD's bday) then I would only get 12 weeks total. Obviously praying for zero complications, but especially not before 34 weeks on the dot, because that will be her birthday. I only have 4 weeks at 60% paid (for a vaginal birth) and then the rest I need to cover with my PTO, but our max PTO bank only covers 8 weeks, and there is no way that I have exactly the max amount, and even that would only be 12 weeks of some money. I was completely unpaid for 10 of my 16 weeks last time so I guess anything is better than that.
The US and its policies suck, and it's definitely not getting better anytime soon. Especially with the extra $56B proposed to "win wars just like when he was younger".
TTC: 1/2014
BFP: 9/24
EDD: 6/8/2015
Sorry for the poor man's siggy...ticker won't load regardless of how many tips I read.
I'm planning to take the full standard maternity leave (12 weeks unpaid), and hopefully going back to work at least part time after that. The nature of my job gives me the ability to work from home, which is my dream at this point, but it hasn't been set in stone. I brought it up to my manager when I announced to him, and he seemed open to the possibility so I am praying for that. Also they are looking to hire another person in my department (admin) soon, so I'm not worried about the work load being covered, as we'll have enough people by then to run the daily operations smoothly, whether or not someone is absent from work. We just found out that DH gets 3 weeks paid leave for the baby so that'll be a huge blessing.
Fingers crossed for you that working from home pans out! And that's awesome DH gets paid leave.
I would get to use 6 weeks of sick time paid, and then I could take 6 more weeks unpaid, but this would begin on the day of the birth. Since I'm a teacher due in July, and the school year starts in September, I get nuttin'.
We get 16 weeks at 100% pay so I definitely plan on taking it all. I thought about tacking on my vacation to it, but I may save it so I can be off around Christmas with the girls. My boss is wonderful and was so excited when I told her I was expecting and she brought up the fact that I would have a nice long maternity leave (my company just upped it from 13-16 weeks) I'm starting to freak out about training for my job, because I'm on a lot of projects. But honestly if it doesn't get done and she doesn't reassign it to someone while I'm out, oh well. I'm not letting that affect me or my baby. I have remote access and will log in while on maternity leave to keep it active and get my insurance for new baby in place and that's it. I'll figure the rest out when I get back.
No problems - no real plan yet on handing things off - but there are several people who can take over on my part at any given time if necessary so it's not of huge importance yet. I think the bigger question will be timing on coming back and whether or not I'll do some part-time work from home in the 3rd month off or not.
We get 16 weeks at 100% pay so I definitely plan on taking it all. I thought about tacking on my vacation to it, but I may save it so I can be off around Christmas with the girls. My boss is wonderful and was so excited when I told her I was expecting and she brought up the fact that I would have a nice long maternity leave (my company just upped it from 13-16 weeks) I'm starting to freak out about training for my job, because I'm on a lot of projects. But honestly if it doesn't get done and she doesn't reassign it to someone while I'm out, oh well. I'm not letting that affect me or my baby. I have remote access and will log in while on maternity leave to keep it active and get my insurance for new baby in place and that's it. I'll figure the rest out when I get back.
Lucky duck - Are you Canadian? or just great company benefits? I forget who our Canadian moms are here....
I'm planning for 12 weeks off. 6-8 will be paid depending on whether or not I have a c-section, but I have to use all my sick leave and vacation leave before I get any "extra". Going back to work with a 3 month old and zero leave saved up will be awesome.
I think someone has said this before, but it's really messed up that in a way, there's a financial incentive to have a c-section (not that I want a c-section anyway, but still...)
I'm grateful to have any paid leave at all, and that my boss supports me taking unpaid leave in addition, which I guess goes to show how bad things are here in the US. Part of me wishes DH and I had moved abroad a few years ago. It would have been an option, but I didn't want to start a family that far away from my parents.
@satsumasandlemons Nope, not Canadian, just work for a great company! I think the US should be a lot better about providing mother's with better maternity leave options, but I am thankful my company is at least trying.
I am with others. US maternity benefits (of lack thereof) suck. Obviously with FMLA I can take 12 unpaid. But I started paying into a short term disability plan last year (knowing we would start trying). That will get me 6-8 (depending on type of birth) at 60% pay. BUT, fun fact, I was doing some research and it appears that if you pay 100% of the premiums for your STD plan (meaning your employer pays none) with after tax dollars, then the gov't doesn't tax the benefits you receive when you collect? so the 60% pay would be tax free?? Anyone here a tax expert and want to confirm/deny?
I am with others. US maternity benefits (of lack thereof) suck. Obviously with FMLA I can take 12 unpaid. But I started paying into a short term disability plan last year (knowing we would start trying). That will get me 6-8 (depending on type of birth) at 60% pay. BUT, fun fact, I was doing some research and it appears that if you pay 100% of the premiums for your STD plan (meaning your employer pays none) with after tax dollars, then the gov't doesn't tax the benefits you receive when you collect? so the 60% pay would be tax free?? Anyone here a tax expert and want to confirm/deny?
Yes, that seems to be true. My employer pays my STD, so I'm sure I will be getting taxes out, though.
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
I am with others. US maternity benefits (of lack thereof) suck. Obviously with FMLA I can take 12 unpaid. But I started paying into a short term disability plan last year (knowing we would start trying). That will get me 6-8 (depending on type of birth) at 60% pay. BUT, fun fact, I was doing some research and it appears that if you pay 100% of the premiums for your STD plan (meaning your employer pays none) with after tax dollars, then the gov't doesn't tax the benefits you receive when you collect? so the 60% pay would be tax free?? Anyone here a tax expert and want to confirm/deny?
Yes, that seems to be true. My employer pays my STD, so I'm sure I will be getting taxes out, though.
gosh I hope so. That will make a huge difference if it's tax free money!
STMs may know, but I have open enrollment in July that starts 9/1. If I sign up for STD and I'm on maternity leave at the time it takes effect, how does that play into FMLA? I know I can call HR and probably will, but thought someone here might know. I had surgery last year and my FML is on a rolling calendar basis so I only have 8.5 weeks that I can take for the baby and I'd love to have a bit longer, so I was considering getting STD.
@maybeitsmadeline I would definitely ask HR. It varies so much by workplace - some places make you take FMLA concurrently with other leave, some let you do one after the other, some have plans totally separate from FMLA. The way things work at my office is very different than anything I've seen online or even what I thought based on the employee handbook, and I wouldn't have known without asking HR.
Also, some STD plans don't let you use it for pre-existing conditions (like pregnancy!) so ask about that.
STMs may know, but I have open enrollment in July that starts 9/1. If I sign up for STD and I'm on maternity leave at the time it takes effect, how does that play into FMLA? I know I can call HR and probably will, but thought someone here might know. I had surgery last year and my FML is on a rolling calendar basis so I only have 8.5 weeks that I can take for the baby and I'd love to have a bit longer, so I was considering getting STD.
were you signed up for STD beforehand? If not, it likely won't cover this pregnancy. Most STD plans have a clause that they won't cover pregnancy benefits within 9 months of enrollment (meaning you have to be enrolled before you get pregnant)
Thanks and all good info ladies! Thanks! I was looking at some of the docs online and it looks like there's an elimination period of two weeks before I can qualify, but that it covers pre-existing condition. I'll have to ask further because the timeline will be really tight if I do qualify. I'm not currently enrolled and should have when I got this job, but I didn't think I would get pregnant this coverage year because of my surgery and the time it took us to conceive already. If I can only take the 8.5 weeks I'll make the best of it, but I hadn't even considered STD as an option. I appreciate all the input!
I've seen a few comments about paternity leave, but perhaps I missed it.... Do any NJ or CA moms have any experience with the mandatory PAID paternity leave in those states?
No real updates from me since I last posted on here... I was verbally assured that I can take 10 weeks but have nothing in writing (for that matter nothing in writing re my new job that will start in July - hopefully will have all the stuff including and especially the visa issues ironed out in the next month or two) but I trust my boss so try not to stress too much. Also not clear how much of the 10 weeks will be paid vs partially vs unpaid etc
Thanks and all good info ladies! Thanks! I was looking at some of the docs online and it looks like there's an elimination period of two weeks before I can qualify, but that it covers pre-existing condition. I'll have to ask further because the timeline will be really tight if I do qualify. I'm not currently enrolled and should have when I got this job, but I didn't think I would get pregnant this coverage year because of my surgery and the time it took us to conceive already. If I can only take the 8.5 weeks I'll make the best of it, but I hadn't even considered STD as an option. I appreciate all the input!
Definitely check with HR, but my understanding is: 1) STD can't be taken for the bonding part of your FMLA. ie if you deliver in july, you would have to have the STD in July. If you get covered in Sept for STD, you would potentially be out of the diability phase (6-8 weeks depending on delivery date and type). I think you need coverage at the time of the "incident" aka birth. 2) the elimination period doesn't have to do with new plan coverage, it has to do with new incidents. So I have 14 day elimination. If I have a vaginal birth, they don't pay for the first 14 days (elimination period) after the birth, and weeks 3-6 are covered at my 60%. (So they really only pat me for 4 weeks as the first 2 weeks are my elimination period).
anyone up for a check-in? i think most of us have told our managers? how did it go? have you started thinking about how to prepare for the hand-off?
Boss took my news exceptionally well. It was a great conversation. Work wasn't even an issue. It was all congratulations and telling me to take care of myself and the baby, to take the time I needed for appointments, that they would like me back after my leave etc. I asked my manager if I can be involved in the hiring of my contract replacement and she agreed. I'm hoping I can be really confident in this person to not feel so bad when I tell them I'm not returning. I've decided to wait until the mandatory 11th month to spill those beans. Telling them when I go on my leave can affect my benefits. (They need to put "leave" on my record of employment. If they put "quit" I won't get my maternity leave cheques) I straight up told my manager if I could afford it I would be a SAHM but that I don't think it's financially feasible. She started talking about even if I didn't come back right away, they would always be willing to rehire me at any time.
My colleague who works limited hours of the same job as me has decided to quit when I go on leave. *sigh* I feel bad knowing that they're going to have to deal with that too. If she would have just quit months or even a year ago, I could have been working full-time all this time. Ugh. *angry*face*
@satsumasandlemons Canadian over here. Just thought I would chime in and explain our leave policy here in Canada. We pay into what we call "EI" (employment insurance) every paycheck. This money is basically "held" for us. We can dip into it for things like layoffs, sick leave (as in medically recommended. This isn't like sick pay for a day off here and there), compassionate leave (to take care of a dying family member) and maternity/paternity leave. There are stipulations to each. For mat/pat leave you have to have a minimum of 600 insurable hours prior to your leave and you had to have worked at least 13 weeks prior to said leave (any type of work really). It is paid out at 55-65% of your averaged income over the last year so it's not full pay and there is a maximum. People making say, $120,000/yr won't get that percentage.
We get 17 weeks maternity which can start 17 weeks prior to your due date or must be taken within 17 weeks of your baby's actual birth date. Then we get an additional 35 weeks of paternity leave. Mom or Dad can take paternity but not both. So Mom can take all 35 weeks or they can split it or however families want to run with that. So we get a full 52 weeks of leave (17 of those being for Mom only), at a little more than half our earnings, and job protection. We also keep seniority, benefits etc. You must be given your old job back after leave or if it doesn't exist, a comparable job at the same salary etc. Most women wait until baby comes then take the full 52 weeks for a year leave. You can also double dip if your Dr orders you off work and do sick leave, then maternity leave, then paternity. These benefits are available for adoptive parents as well.
I guess my point is I'm not complaining in the least. I'm appalled that the US doesn't have a policy in place, but we DO pay into our leave with our own earnings so it's not free money. (Kind of like our Healthcare in the sense that we don't pay when we go to the hospital but we do pay for it with our taxes) In the course of my lifetime I will probably pay out way more than I actually use. But... it's nice to have since we are obviously growing a family. I have also used it once before for a job loss. In addition to this we get a child tax credit (fancy name for "baby bonus") which is basically just a" help you out" cheque. It all depends on the age, quantity of kids and household income. DH and I would barely get jack shit under the old Conservative government but the Liberals up'd the amounts which helps out middle class families more. Well everyone, but it's nice for us to be added into the pot. (DH's ex gets upwards of $1800/mth for her 4 kids because she refuses to get off her ass and work so they are considered "low income" and get the maximum for each. My friend gets $1100/mth for her 2 kids. I work my ass off, as does DH, and we will barely clear $300 if we're lucky! But that's an argument for another time and it's better than nothing so again, I know I shouldn't complain haha!)
Thanks for explaining that, @stokesm21. I'd still rather pay into that sort of fund and have a better leave policy (12 week job protection for full-time workers who've been at their job for at least a year, at companies of 50 people or higher is crap IMO). Then again, I'd also rather pay into a nationalized health care system than having employer-based or private health insurance.
@PurplePumpernickel I agree. I'm not great when it comes to saving money for stuff like that long term. Not sure what I would do if I were in the US. Even here, citizens are trying to get it extended to 18 months.
@chiquita928 I always laugh when people say that because it's really not that cold depending where you live. I'm about 2 hours from the NY border. We still get some cold winters (a few years ago we had 2 years of 2-3 months of -30C weather on the daily. It was BRUTAL!) but you get use to it. My Aunt grew up in Canada but then lived in the US most of her life with most of that time spent in TX (where my Uncle, they are now divorced, still practices and has his hospital) She moved back to Canada 2 years ago and her friends acted like we live in a tundra haha! I would not want to live any further North though or anywhere in the Prairies where the wind whips like nobody's business! But if you're looking for a "warmer" Canadian place to travel or live, British Columbia is your spot. They do get snow every so often but it pretty much just rains all winter. I prefer snow over rain though because you don't need an umbrella to go out in the snow :P The 1 trip I took to TX I was sweltering in their heat while my cousins were walking around in pants. I just didn't understand it lol! But ... even Canadians hate the cold so I feel ya!
@stokesm21 I live in the southern half of NY state, and I went to college in Albany, NY, so I'm no stranger to cold. I just couldn't imagine it even colder than here! Lol. I feel like it would be weird to not have any snow in the winter, but -30C is too much for me. I hate when it goes below freezing here.
@chiquita928 Haha! I feel ya. Most years I hate the cold too! :P I do agree on the snow thing. I don't think I could live anywhere that didn't have snow at Christmas. It just wouldn't feel the same.
@stokesm21 out of curiosity, how much is the deduction from your pay that goes into that leave 'fund'? Feel free to tell me to buzz off if you don't want to answer. lol
@Rae1 The leave fund is our unemployment insurance. It is not a fund specific to maternity leave. Also, employers and employees pay into EI. Maximum for an individual person is just over $800/year and employers pay 1.4 times the employee contribution. What you are eligible for is not dependent on how much you have paid into the fund. Each circumstance (maternity leave, job loss etc) has different eligibility rules. So for maternity leave you need to have worked 600 hours in the 52 weeks prior to you leave. The amount of money that was contributed by you is irrelevant.
@Rae1 The leave fund is our unemployment insurance. It is not a fund specific to maternity leave. Also, employers and employees pay into EI. Maximum for an individual person is just over $800/year and employers pay 1.4 times the employee contribution. What you are eligible for is not dependent on how much you have paid into the fund. Each circumstance (maternity leave, job loss etc) has different eligibility rules. So for maternity leave you need to have worked 600 hours in the 52 weeks prior to you leave. The amount of money that was contributed by you is irrelevant.
ETA: And even though you may have worked 600 hours within the 52 weeks you still have to be employed directly before your leave. You can't work 600 hours then quit and expect to get maternity leave. It won't pay out if you were unemployed so it is very dependent on you working prior to the birth. For example: My friends kid is 11 months old and therefore her maternity leave was not done yet but she is now pregnant with her second. She had to stop her maternity leave and go back to work to get her 600 hours so she can take maternity leave again for the 2nd child. You can't go on back-to-back leave.
Re: Maternity leave plans?
Has anyone asked to work from home one day a week? I'm pretty sure that my new job would be able to accommodate it, but there is no general college policy on working from home.
But reading this makes me want to f'ing SCREAM. That the US is one of two freaking countries in the world that does not give a single day of paid leave. That it is a perfectly normal and acceptable thing to push women into a forced labor/medical intervention so her child can be born in a timeframe that fits going back to work fast enough - 6 freaking weeks after birth. I just cannot even with the backwardness of our government and social values that have enabled this situation. I know we all do what we gotta do...and you sound fine with it...but I am so sorry you're put into that situation. It's absolutely ridiculous.
I hope everyone includes "contacting your representatives about family leave benefits" in their maternity leave plans. So many posts on this thread are heartbreaking.
And empowering. Some strong, badass mamas on here, figuring out the system and doing what they gotta.
End rant. Sorrynotsorry.
I think having a scheduled induction is the best choice for me for several other reasons, so I'm fine with that aspect of it
The US and its policies suck, and it's definitely not getting better anytime soon. Especially with the extra $56B proposed to "win wars just like when he was younger".
I think someone has said this before, but it's really messed up that in a way, there's a financial incentive to have a c-section (not that I want a c-section anyway, but still...)
I'm grateful to have any paid leave at all, and that my boss supports me taking unpaid leave in addition, which I guess goes to show how bad things are here in the US. Part of me wishes DH and I had moved abroad a few years ago. It would have been an option, but I didn't want to start a family that far away from my parents.
@satsumasandlemons Nope, not Canadian, just work for a great company! I think the US should be a lot better about providing mother's with better maternity leave options, but I am thankful my company is at least trying.
My employer pays my STD, so I'm sure I will be getting taxes out, though.
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
Me: 26 Him: 27
Dating: 5/2011 Married: 6/2014
Mirena out/TTC: 02/2016
BFP #1: 12/01/2016
EDD: 07/24/2017
Also, some STD plans don't let you use it for pre-existing conditions (like pregnancy!) so ask about that.
Me: 26 Him: 27
Dating: 5/2011 Married: 6/2014
Mirena out/TTC: 02/2016
BFP #1: 12/01/2016
EDD: 07/24/2017
edit - words...
Highly monitored internet and no cell service in the office, so I'm postin' and ghostin' while I'm workin'
1) STD can't be taken for the bonding part of your FMLA. ie if you deliver in july, you would have to have the STD in July. If you get covered in Sept for STD, you would potentially be out of the diability phase (6-8 weeks depending on delivery date and type). I think you need coverage at the time of the "incident" aka birth.
2) the elimination period doesn't have to do with new plan coverage, it has to do with new incidents. So I have 14 day elimination. If I have a vaginal birth, they don't pay for the first 14 days (elimination period) after the birth, and weeks 3-6 are covered at my 60%. (So they really only pat me for 4 weeks as the first 2 weeks are my elimination period).
Good luck!
My colleague who works limited hours of the same job as me has decided to quit when I go on leave. *sigh* I feel bad knowing that they're going to have to deal with that too. If she would have just quit months or even a year ago, I could have been working full-time all this time. Ugh. *angry*face*
ETA details
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
We get 17 weeks maternity which can start 17 weeks prior to your due date or must be taken within 17 weeks of your baby's actual birth date. Then we get an additional 35 weeks of paternity leave. Mom or Dad can take paternity but not both. So Mom can take all 35 weeks or they can split it or however families want to run with that. So we get a full 52 weeks of leave (17 of those being for Mom only), at a little more than half our earnings, and job protection. We also keep seniority, benefits etc. You must be given your old job back after leave or if it doesn't exist, a comparable job at the same salary etc. Most women wait until baby comes then take the full 52 weeks for a year leave. You can also double dip if your Dr orders you off work and do sick leave, then maternity leave, then paternity. These benefits are available for adoptive parents as well.
I guess my point is I'm not complaining in the least. I'm appalled that the US doesn't have a policy in place, but we DO pay into our leave with our own earnings so it's not free money. (Kind of like our Healthcare in the sense that we don't pay when we go to the hospital but we do pay for it with our taxes) In the course of my lifetime I will probably pay out way more than I actually use. But... it's nice to have since we are obviously growing a family. I have also used it once before for a job loss. In addition to this we get a child tax credit (fancy name for "baby bonus") which is basically just a" help you out" cheque. It all depends on the age, quantity of kids and household income. DH and I would barely get jack shit under the old Conservative government but the Liberals up'd the amounts which helps out middle class families more. Well everyone, but it's nice for us to be added into the pot. (DH's ex gets upwards of $1800/mth for her 4 kids because she refuses to get off her ass and work so they are considered "low income" and get the maximum for each. My friend gets $1100/mth for her 2 kids. I work my ass off, as does DH, and we will barely clear $300 if we're lucky! But that's an argument for another time and it's better than nothing so again, I know I shouldn't complain haha!)
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
@chiquita928 I always laugh when people say that because it's really not that cold depending where you live. I'm about 2 hours from the NY border. We still get some cold winters (a few years ago we had 2 years of 2-3 months of -30C weather on the daily. It was BRUTAL!) but you get use to it. My Aunt grew up in Canada but then lived in the US most of her life with most of that time spent in TX (where my Uncle, they are now divorced, still practices and has his hospital) She moved back to Canada 2 years ago and her friends acted like we live in a tundra haha! I would not want to live any further North though or anywhere in the Prairies where the wind whips like nobody's business! But if you're looking for a "warmer" Canadian place to travel or live, British Columbia is your spot. They do get snow every so often but it pretty much just rains all winter. I prefer snow over rain though because you don't need an umbrella to go out in the snow :P The 1 trip I took to TX I was sweltering in their heat while my cousins were walking around in pants. I just didn't understand it lol! But ... even Canadians hate the cold so I feel ya!
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
ETA: And even though you may have worked 600 hours within the 52 weeks you still have to be employed directly before your leave. You can't work 600 hours then quit and expect to get maternity leave. It won't pay out if you were unemployed so it is very dependent on you working prior to the birth. For example: My friends kid is 11 months old and therefore her maternity leave was not done yet but she is now pregnant with her second. She had to stop her maternity leave and go back to work to get her 600 hours so she can take maternity leave again for the 2nd child. You can't go on back-to-back leave.
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie