I hope this is okay for a stand-alone thread. If it’s not, let me know and I’ll take it to the questions thread! No hard feelings
For those that are working, what is your maternity leave policy? and how big is your company? How much time will you be taking? Paid? Unpaid? Will you work right up until you go into labor or take off a bit beforehand? Anything else you plan to do to prep your team for your absence?
Feel free to include policies from previous companies too if you’d like. I think it will be interesting to compare amongst the group!
Re: Maternity Leave Discussion
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
With #2, I had 12 weeks, but only the first 6 were paid, and I had enough vacation time to get paid for an additional 2 weeks. When I returned from leave my amazing boss at the time paid me a bonus in the exact amount of income I lost during leave. She rocks and I still miss her.
With this baby, I am self-employed working freelance, so I can finally decide how much leave I think is right for my family, but I won't be paid, so it comes down to what we can afford (still TBD).
With both #1 and #2 my husband had more paid leave than I did. Even though he did not have to grow a human, or feed them around the clock, or recover from a 4th degree tear or major surgery. Not complaining, family leave is amazing for any parent regardless of gender, he just happened to have much more supportive workplaces than I did when it came to parental leave.
I wish all families had the time they needed, without having to worry about losing jobs or income, or the long-term potential effects on career progression. I have A LOT of feelings on this topic, especially as it relates to being a woman in STEM, but I think this little novel is probably enough for tonight
For my first when I was in grad school I took the semester off, and accepted that I wouldn't get my stipend and we'd manage with DH's grad stipend. But then they said, because it was a particular fellowship, we have this money we've awarded to you, and if we don't give it to you it will stay in the account and the people who give it to us will say clearly you need less next year, so can we pay you anyway? I was like, that's weird but thank you very much I will gratefully accept!
Now I'm a high school teacher, and I hoped this baby might coincide with the beginning of summer but it happens when it happens and it will be practically the beginning of the school year. It will be only my second year teaching there (or at all) so I'm a little worried about telling them. Any teachers here have advice of when to tell? ASAP so they have time to find a sub? After they've committed to hiring me back in next year? They are also considering adding a new elective in my specialty next year and I really don't want to lose the opportunity to develop and teach the class.
I don’t believe my partner will be taking paternity leave, he works from home and doesn’t want to take the pay cut (understandably since he will be covering all the expenses).
For this one, I should be able to get 2 weeks of paid time from my company and then 80% pay for 12 weeks from STD but I’m not positive it is going to work out because our company was just acquired and I’m not sure how all the benefits are going work when we switch to the new parent company policies in July. I need to get it all squared away with HR when I’m ready to share the news. I also plan on only going back 4 days/week (32 hours) for several months after I go back to work.
with my 1st I only had 3 months of unpaid leave and it was rough going back. Now I’m thinking of taking a 6 month personal leave bc I’ll have my hands full with a newborn and toddler. But it’ll be challenging financially. Good luck to all!
I haven't told my team yet, mostly because I'm holding out for the results of a promotion. But I do plan to tell them pretty early on in 2nd trimester so they can plan who will cover for me/if they need to bring anyone new into the team. I've been training one of the junior engineers on my team, so I'm hoping by the time August comes around he'll be in a good spot to fill in for me while I'm out.
My current place offers STD @ 80% for 6 weeks, 2 weeks of 100% pay for maternity leave, and then any other time I'd need to use PTO. I am fully remote, so I'm leaning on only taking the 8 paid weeks, and then going back to work. I'm saving up for the time I'm at 80% and also for additional weeks if I decide I need extra time with baby as we get closer.
We both work in design/tech
ETA: I guess this could have gone in the venting thread instead.
My husband will then take a few weeks in the new year + our in-laws help to delay day care start to February when baby is 6 mo. That is my dream!
FYI I have heard payouts can be very delayed if you have to file for short term disability through work (at least we do in NJ). Hope that's helpful for someone out there!
Married: 4/5/13
"You know that place between sleep and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I will always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."
~Peter Pan
*TW*
BFP #2: 10/29/17 MMC dx @ 9 weeks
BFP #3: 2/2/18 MC 2/7/18
BFP #4: 3/2/18 MC 3/9/18
RPL testing and hysteroscopy: all normal
BFP #5: 4/1/18 MMC dx @ 14 weeks ----> genetically normal girl
Hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue 9/28
BFP #6 11/5/18 EDD 7/20/19
BFP #7 12/8/2021 EDD 8/22/2022
Anyway, I could just talk in circles about this forever, I will be taking my entire 40 days paid and most likely 4 additional weeks unpaid (if the all male school board approves that *insert eyeroll here*). That would get me to the end of November, with about three weeks back teaching before winter break. Then, I'll be back full time in January for the rest of the school year.
I know everything will work out and it won't matter when I have my little babe in my hands, but right now it's causing a lot of stress, anxiousness, and bitterness.