Employment post baby poll

GracefulStar · April 2017

Hi all,
Just wondering what everyone is planning to do regarding employment post baby. Currently I'm part time but I will be on extended leave with this baby so most likely SAHM for a year or two and then back to full time, unless it's urgent I return to work sooner. But with three that would need childcare it probably makes more sense to stay home for a bit.

wyomama0427 · April 2017

I've been a SAHM since I was pregnant with DS, probably going to stay that way until the little ones are in school/daycare what have you.

mrs_tacos · April 2017

Hi. Not trying to be rude, but I've seen you pose a few times, but you never introed. It would be nice if you'd go up to the intro thread and tell us a little bit about yourself so we can start to get to know you.

coastalmomma2 · April 2017

I'll go on maternity leave and then return for work for at least four months until I am vested in my retirement plan. After that, I'll have to take a number of factors into consideration, including the fact that with two kids in daycare I will be handing over more than half my salary every month. However, last time I attempted to be a SAHM for 6 months after DS was born, I felt quite restless and isolated. We'll see. At least I've got a window to make a decision.

satuttle1014 · April 2017

I'm a SAHM now after my 1st since childcare near me was more than my mortgage and with my salary it didn't make sense. I will continue to be a SAHM.

lilpoots · April 2017

I'm self employed and going to take off 8 weeks this time. Also want to retain all of my clients, but it's hard with the every 4 weeks folks. I'm sure I will be taking it easy for a while.

sarahufl · April 2017

I am a SAHM already (DD just turned 1) and plan to keep staying home for the foreseeable future.

Swazzle · April 2017

Unless DH works some crazy magic and doubles his salary or we win the lottery, I'll be returning full-time after my leave is up.

klcarr19 · April 2017

I am a teacher so I get to work full time and then ample time to be a SAHM on breaks. Plus the income helps so I cannot just stop working.

msashley2010-2 · April 2017

Full time working mama here. I make the most money in my household so it makes the most sense for me. I'm kinda sad because I got to be a SAHM while my daughter was a baby but the daycare we put my son in will be right by work so I'll at least be able to go and visit on my lunches.

IsItTacoTuesday · April 2017

I'm a scientist...so a lot of graduate school and time into my career, will be a full-time working mom. I wanted 12 weeks off, but with previous migraines and now fibroid degeneration issues I've used quite a bit of sick leave. Will take as much time as I can off, and might use sick leave pool to extend it, and then back to the lab/office. Need to find childcare, mil offered which is sweet, but she smokes in her house and I don't want a stinky/sids prone baby.

Souptin · April 2017

I live in Canada so I get a year leave but I recently started a new job ( On contract) in a union environment- in order to stay in the union I will need to go back before my current contract ends so I will likely be back at work by early February and my husband will take over at home until this baby is closer to a year old. Its really not ideal and I hate that I will have to sacrifice so much time with my baby but the long term gain of staying with this employer is well worth it.

MyNamesTaken · April 2017

I'm also in Canada. I'll probably take 9-10 months and my husband will take the last 2-3. He gets topped up for 12 weeks, so it makes sense financially for us and he didn't get the chance last time. I'm a lawyer and the trend is for women in my firm to max out at 9-10 months so there's that consideration too.

IsItTacoTuesday · April 2017

Even with the union issue, you Canadian ladies are lucky! The laws are much more supportive of working moms and acknowledge how important the first year is. I wish I had more time saved, but only so much rolls over each year, and I have a good maternity leave for US standards.

mamagabby-2 · April 2017

Already a SAHM, since my daughter was born. This will be our second, and we want 4-5, so I'll be staying home at least the next 10 years!

jessieR358 · April 2017

im jealous of all you Canadian moms. I'll get 16 weeks total, unpaid after 6 weeks (60% of my income those 6 weeks). Ill go back to my job. It's considered full time but it's closer to part time hours.

Souptin · April 2017

IsItTacoTuesday said:

Even with the union issue, you Canadian ladies are lucky! The laws are much more supportive of working moms and acknowledge how important the first year is. I wish I had more time saved, but only so much rolls over each year, and I have a good maternity leave for US standards.

We are so fortunate and thankful for the system we have. Its appalling to me the way its done in the USA.

GracefulStar · April 2017

Is there a required minimum in Canada? Or can you go back as early as you want (if you wanted to)? It's great that they are supportive of working moms and childcare.
@mrs_tacos I already introduced on that discussion on Jan 10... can't help it if you don't remember me.

wyomama0427 · April 2017

That was a tad bit too snappy at someone who genuinely wants to get to know everyone here. A simple, I already introed and you can find it on this page would have worked just fine. She was very nice to you.

mrs_tacos · April 2017

I was trying to be nice and get to know you, but I guess I can't help it if you want to be unnecessarily salty.

wyomama0427 · April 2017

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

labby18 · April 2017

@GracefulStar you could have easily said that without the edge. @mrs_tacos wasn't being rude. You haven't posted much and then you posted a new thread, and she was just curious of who you are. Similarly to the calling all lurkers thread. A place for those who may have intro'd but haven't been very active. I do remember your username tho. So I hope you continue to be active so a miscomm doesn't occur again.

DPandMB · April 2017

wyomama0427 said:

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

Damn I really miss GIFs. I would like to add one of eating popcorn, and or one of a calm your tits.

labby18 · April 2017

DPandMB said:

wyomama0427 said:

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

Damn I really miss GIFs. I would like to add one of eating popcorn, and or one of a calm your tits.

+1 on calm your tits gif

wyomama0427 · April 2017

labby18 said:

DPandMB said:

wyomama0427 said:

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

Damn I really miss GIFs. I would like to add one of eating popcorn, and or one of a calm your tits.

+1 on calm your tits gif

Have you seen the meme of the statue with spraying boobs? And it says calm your tits lol

Souptin · April 2017

Team calm down. We're all friendly here- no need for that.

to answer your question there is no minimum amount of time you can take. The way it works here is you must work a minimum of 600 hours in the year leading up to you taking your leave. When you take your leave you get 55% of your salary ( to a max amount) dispersed to you over either a 12 month or 18 month period. ( the total amount is the same if you pick 18 months just lesser payment) Its under the federal government as " Unemployment insurance" EI so, when I go back to work early and my husband takes leave he will have to submit the same EI paperwork to receive the benefit for his Pat leave.

mrs_tacos · April 2017

wyomama0427 said:

labby18 said:

DPandMB said:

wyomama0427 said:

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

Damn I really miss GIFs. I would like to add one of eating popcorn, and or one of a calm your tits.

+1 on calm your tits gif

Have you seen the meme of the statue with spraying boobs? And it says calm your tits lol

You mean this one?

DPandMB · April 2017

@mrs_tacos this is perfect. Damn you mobile. Jealous of your GIF ability.

MadisonInspires · April 2017

We live pretty simple, so I'm hoping I'll be able to stay home after LO is here, and that's what we're shooting for. There's a possibility of me going back or having to find something else... But I'm fortunate enough to have plenty of supportive family members nearby if I do need to go back. I'm hoping to be a SAHM, but it's all a waiting game right now. I'll know within a couple months.

awildrose · April 2017

I answered the poll but haven't commented yet.

I'm massively jealous of Canadian leave.

I'm a teacher so this baby will be born right when I go back to work. I'm allowed up to 12 weeks under FMLA, but none is paid and I'm still responsible for all the lesson plans prior to my leave. I have STD and we are saving up extra money. I hope to get 8 weeks off. But as teachers, my DH and I can't afford for me not to work. I enjoy my job, but I wish this baby was coming in the Spring so I could be off all summer like I was with my first two.

divinemsm620 · April 2017

awildrose said:

I answered the poll but haven't commented yet.

I'm massively jealous of Canadian leave.

I'm a teacher so this baby will be born right when I go back to work. I'm allowed up to 12 weeks under FMLA, but none is paid and I'm still responsible for all the lesson plans prior to my leave. I have STD and we are saving up extra money. I hope to get 8 weeks off. But as teachers, my DH and I can't afford for me not to work. I enjoy my job, but I wish this baby was coming in the Spring so I could be off all summer like I was with my first two.

You are responsible for your lesson plans while you're out?!?! That's nuts!!! 1) you aren't being paid and 2) kids aren't robots, and 12 weeks is a long time; what if your plans need to be adjusted?!

My district hires someone to cover for the duration of the leave ("long-term sub") and I think that's the standard in Mass. They are expected to do the full job of the teacher. I hope they get someone good for me, but I also trust my fellow 9th grade teacher partners to keep the sub on the right track so I can focus on my baby!

heatherlynn321 · April 2017

@divinemsm620 Oh man, I wish my district did something like that. We're responsible for all of our lesson plans and for finding our own sub, and the sub pool for my school is kind of terrible. Last time I went on maternity leave the sub just gave up trying to teach after a week a just let the kids play on their phones all day because she didn't want to deal with behavior. I'm dreading it.

divinemsm620 · April 2017

heatherwilson321 said:

@divinemsm620 Oh man, I wish my district did something like that. We're responsible for all of our lesson plans and for finding our own sub, and the sub pool for my school is kind of terrible. Last time I went on maternity leave the sub just gave up trying to teach after a week a just let the kids play on their phones all day because she didn't want to deal with behavior. I'm dreading it.

This is unreal to me! I had no idea about this. Typically LTS are newer teachers who couldn't find a full-time job, or they may be retired teachers looking for some extra cash. But they don't come from the sub pool, because the leave is just too long. (Our subs vary in quality and we do have to leave sub plans if we are out sick, at a conference, etc. But for a maternity or other medical leave, the curriculum is enough--no need to leave daily plans.)

awildrose · April 2017

@divinemsm620 @heatherwilson321

My district gets my sub for me which is nice. In the fall it will actually be the student teacher that my co-teacher had this past semester. So she knows all of my teaching team and has done some observations in my classroom already. The hardest part is that I'm my grade level's lead teacher so all the tedious stuff I'm responsible for will have to fall on someone else, and at the beginning of the year that's a lot. I'll be doing a TON of prep over the summer.

MyNamesTaken · April 2017

Just to add to @Souptin's explanation above, our leave is split between "maternity leave" and "parental leave."

A mother who gives birth to a full term baby gets 15 weeks, whether she keeps the baby or not. This is for physical recovery. Parental leave is for anyone who becomes a parent (either through birth, adoption, etc) and is 35 weeks. There's a 2 week waiting period as well so that's how the year gets made up.

So for a baby born by surrogacy or given up for adoption, the birth mom gets her 15 weeks and the parents get 35 weeks to split up as they see fit. The time can be taken at the same time too. It's pretty flexible depending on individual needs.

Our laws also provide job protection for 1 year regardless of how you arrange for paid EI time.

I'm so sorry the US is so behind. Our system isn't perfect but it works pretty damn well for most situations.

divinemsm620 · April 2017

@awildrose I hear what you're saying about the tedious stuff. However, I am sure you're relieved that your sub is someone who is familiar with you, your colleagues, your students, and the school!

We are actually hiring a full-time person next year in my department, so I'm glad I told my principal and department head early enough that they could keep some individuals in mind for my maternity leave whom they liked but who wouldn't receive a full-time job offer. I'm hopeful whomever they hire will be great.

Hopefulmommy1980 · April 2017

I am jealous of Canada. I can use fmla to take up to 12 weeks off I have to use my leave I saved up or it would be unpaid. We only get to use sick leave for the first 6 or 8 week depending on the type of birth after that we have to use annual leave/vacation. Luckily I have been at my job for several years so I have saved up but taking 10 weeks I will use almost all of annual leave.

Souptin · April 2017

@MyNamesTaken check your PM's pal

Swazzle · April 2017

Regarding leave, I'm going to be taking 6 months. I'll get full pay for 3 months, then partial pay for 6 weeks, and the last 6 weeks will be unpaid. DH can take up to 12 weeks unpaid at any point within the first year with FMLA. We haven't decided yet if he'll be using that at all though. His company is pretty good, he had surgery on his ankle a couple years ago and they paid him the whole time he was out and didn't dock him any PTO either. So we're holding out hope they do something like that when the baby is born. If we can afford it, it would be nice for him to use the FMLA time when I go back to work in March since that'll save us from having to figure out childcare for a bit longer.

klcarr19 · April 2017

mrs_tacos said:

wyomama0427 said:

labby18 said:

DPandMB said:

wyomama0427 said:

Insert gif of dancing salt shaker here

Damn I really miss GIFs. I would like to add one of eating popcorn, and or one of a calm your tits.

+1 on calm your tits gif

Have you seen the meme of the statue with spraying boobs? And it says calm your tits lol

You mean this one?

Omg... my bladder was not empty enough for this right now...dying! Hahaha

kaylaakosua · April 2017

Co-Sign with all the Canadian mamas. I did that with DS. Now you can stretch it to 18 months which goes down to 33% of your income. So the exact same amount as 12 months just spread out more. It's good for sharing with dad or if daycare is just way to crazy but it's a lot of planning. It is something we pay into being EI. I'm scared moving to the U.S in October but I will mainly be a SAHM and helping with the shop FI owns, so a family business.

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