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I have not taken maternity leave yet so I don't know if 10 weeks will be enough. However, I will tell you most people in NY State only get 8 weeks. And that's all I'm going to take even though I do want to take more!
I think being that you are the only person that can do your job and they will be hiring someone else to do your job 14 weeks is a lot of time to request. That's basically 3 months. A quarter of a year. Even though you are entitled to the 4 weeks prior why not not take that or reduce that down to 1 week and take 9 weeks after birth. That way you are still only taking the 10 weeks you are allotted. So you're not requesting more time off than you are legally given.
That's just how I would personally approach it.
Honestly, I'm not sure why you would have to take 4 weeks off before the baby unless you're put on bed rest. I think it would be much more appropriate for you to ask for the time off after baby arrives- you'll want it more then too!
I agree with the PP. Don't take off the 4 weeks before. Unless you're on bedrest there is no reason for it. You'll just be sitting around waiting for the baby to come. Work until you deliver and then aim for 10-12 weeks off after the baby. If the partners are parents themselves hopefully they can understand your desire to bond with your child.
If you're in CA, and you're paying into the state SDI system (which I assume you are because you referenced both SDI and PFL in your post), you are entitled to:
The state system pays about 60% wages (up to a certain max, I'd have to look up the exact amount) per week of leave with both SDI and PFL. Most people I know will coordinate their SDI and PFL benefits with paid time off so they're making a full paycheck while collecting SDI and PFL.
Otherwise, if you do not pay into the state system and you are just referencing the CA Family Rights Act, you have the option of taking 12 weeks of paid or unpaid leave, per year, per incident. You can take the leave at any point during post-partum for "baby bonding", but there are some limitations in terms of minimum amount of leave taken at a time.
Are you the only administrative person for the entire company? Or is there an HR person (even if he/she is at a different branch) that you can talk to? A CA HR rep is really the best person to guide you through the process, if someone is available.
I am literally the only employee here :).
Looks like I will only take two weeks off before due date and 10 weeks after for a total of 12 weeks.
Hopefully the baby comes right on time or else I will have less than 10 weeks with him/her!
@JustlikeHeaven: I think 10 weeks sounds pretty average. :) Hopefully, that baby is punctual!
Girls, I don't mean to sound ignorant here, but do women in the United States really just get 6-10 weeks and then have to return to work? Are there any other options to stay off for longer?
YES! :( US Healthcare system sucks especially maternity leave policy. :(
Oh....my God! I really did not know that. In Canada, you get a whole year of 55% of your pay (to a limit of $411 per week) from the government, plus whatever you get from your employer if you're lucky enough to have that (I'm not but the 55% is decent on it's own). That stinks! Come move up here!!
I'm 30 minutes over the border and I've thought about it to have my child! hahhaha
@regberadaisy: Lol, I would think about it, too!
I feel dumb, but I'm really shocked. I'm not a Mom yet, but all my friends are up here crying about having to leave their babies after a year....they probably don't realize either!
Sorry to threadjack, OP - I voted for the 10 weeks. I hope you can get as much time as you're allowed!
I am going back to work this coming Monday, which will be 10 weeks. I would not take 4 weeks off prior- I would have been soooo bored just waiting... and what if you are 2 weeks late? I feel good about going back at 10 weeks, 6 weeks would not have been enough for me.
If it were me, I would truly consider not taking any time off before the baby is due, and then asking for 10-12 weeks after the baby is born.
If you take 2 weeks off before your due date, and the baby is 1-2 weeks late, you are looking at only 8-9 weeks of leave with your baby. If you wait until you go into labor, you would have more flexibility on when your maternity leave actually starts, and then you could get 2-4 more weeks with your baby.
Also, another thing to consider is that maybe you can ask for the 10-12 weeks after the baby is born. And tell them you will work up to your due date but with a bit of flexibility. Meaning that if you are very swollen or exhausted, maybe you work half days or reduced hours or something. It sounds like a situation where they would hire a temp to cover for you while you are out, so maybe in the beginning you work until 3 pm, and she starts at 12 noon, and that give you 3 hours each day to train her. And then after a few days, maybe you work until 12 pm and she works starting at 12 pm, so half days. And then when you give birth, she will be fully prepared for everything. Just a suggestion!
The only reason why i contemplated taking 4 weeks off before my due date is because work is already driving me insane, as i stated i am the only employee here for 9 attorneys and no - not all of them have been understanding with how sick ive felt. Also it be nice to have time to prepare my home for the baby and go on walks. Plus thats what the state of California pays, so if I take 12 weeks off AFTER the baby is here I will only get about 60% of my pay for 6 weeks and then the other 6 weeks I would not get paid anything. I am not sure if I will be able to save up enough to cover my bills for 6 weeks.
@JustlikeHeaven: In Tennessee the disability leave has to be approved by a doctor because you are having complicatons. They are not going to pay you to just stay home and relax. Also you only get 6 weeks for regular birth and 8 weeks for C section under FMLA. Some people take an extra week or two of vacation time and have it approved by your manager prior to the leave. If you stay out longer they do not have to hold your job for you legally.
My doctor actually stated that he would sign me off 4 weeks before my due date if I decided on that.
Its all just so frustrating :)!
Is FMLA different in each state? I thought it was a federal program? I'm taking 12 wks FMLA after my baby is born. 6 of those being STD that my work will cover and then an additional 6 wks unpaid.
Yep, I dont qualify for FMLA - I am the only employee here and I believe with FMLA a company has to have at least 50 employees.
Forgot about that clause - bummer!
My opinion is take as much leave as you can. If you able to take the 4 wks off both medically and financially go for it! You deserve to relax a little before baby comes especially if your work is less than supportive!
@JustlikeHeaven: No, you can get 12 weeks paid leave after the baby comes, 6 weeks of short term disability for a vaginal birth (SDI) and six weeks of "baby bonding" paid family leave (PFL). They are two separate programs, but both are covered under the state SDI plan, so if you're eligible for SDI, you're also eligible for PFL (you're husband may also be eligible for 6 weeks PFL; he should ask at his work). The only limitations, are that you may be limited to 12 weeks total, based on your company policy or applicable laws.
I think it's a personal decision whether you want to take off before the baby comes or not. Personally, I figured I would be miserable and uncomfortable whether I was at work or home, so I worked up until labor. Some people feel more relaxed at home, though, in those last few weeks and prefer to have a little time to themselves before the baby comes. :)
Really Mrs. Spring? I dont know why I havent read that anywhere - but hey youve been through it so I believe you! I asked my nurse practioner about it at my last appointment but she said it was still to early to talk about that and that we would later on, gggrrr. I am def leaning to just working up until labor - even if im miserable to have the 12 weeks off at home with baby :)
thanks for all your help!
it's definitely a personal decision, but i would probably forfeit the 4 weeks before your due date too...especially if it somehow meant that you could negotiate more time off after the baby comes. only because you never know what will happen...your baby could be 3 weeks early or two weeks late. the last few weeks are tough, but it may be better to tough it out so you can spend as much time with your baby as possible.
at least 10-12 weeks after the baby comes is ideal imo (within the US system...sigh). im on leave now and asked for an xtra month and in many ways feel ready to go back after 16 weeks (although im sure i'll be bawling my eyes out the first few days). 6-8 weeks wouldve been too soon for me =/
According to the Family Medical Leave Act you are entitled to 12 weeks unpaid, job protected leave per year. Your employer cannot stop you from taking this time off, nor can they put your job on the line if you choose to take it.
Yep, that's it. We can take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave each year, but we do not get paid through the government. I will only be able to take 6 weeks. I cannot afford to not get paid. I work for a schol district and we can use our accumulated sick time to get a paid leave, but we are only allowed 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for C-section. It pretty much depends on what the doctor writes your note, for.
- I dont qualify for Family Medical Leave Act. I work for a very small company.
10 is pretty good. I have 10wks and I'm already dreading going back to work. Granted I teach Pre-K at a daycare and she'll be across the hall, the point is, I want more alone time with my baby! I'm just thankful to be a teacher and I'll be following the school calender. I wish I worked for myself self, then this might be a little better.
Try to have just a week before the due date. I left work on a Friday because I was just DONE and she came on the upcoming Thursday. Thank God I left because the day she was born, was originally the last day for me.LOL
@Juliepants: yes, the US sucks ass on maternity and healthcare.
In California you get up to 16-18 weeks. The first 4 (prepregnancy) and the 6 -8 after are disability, the last 6 are bonding time that your husband can take as well. The first week is unpaid, but after that you get 55 -60% of your gross salary. It ends up being fairly close to your take home pay. I believe once tax time comes though, the bonding portion is taxed on a federal level.
I would definitely take the full 12 weeks off post pregnancy. They are so much fun towards the end, developing personality and reaching milestones. You pay into the program, use it. If you worry about taking off too much time, I wouldn't take off inital four weeks. I think that would drive me crazy being home all day waiting.
I just went back to work and was shocked at how easy the program is to deal with. You get a debit card from bank of America and money is credited to it on a regular basis. You can use it like a debit card or have it automatically transferred to your own bank account. They send a letter when your disability runs out asking if you're going to take bonding, check a box and you're set.
Everytime I read posts about maternity leave I count my blessings that I live in Canada.
As @Juliepants: has said, all women in Canada who work outside the home are entitled to 50 weeks of leave paid at 55% of your normal salary ( to a specified maximum). They are also untitled to an additional 6 weeks on request and a further 5 weeks with a doctor's certificate.
Many of us also get additional benefits from our collective agreement. My contract gives us a top-up to 85% of our regular wages for the first 17 weeks (maternity leave) then 55% for the remaining 35 weeks of parental leave.
@JustlikeHeaven: Lol, I promise I'm not making stuff up. I work in HR. :) Your best bet is to contact the state Employment Development Department (www.edd.ca.gov) for info on which programs apply to you. Your husband can also ask his HR person about what leave he is eligible for.
If you can't reach EDD, feel free to PM me. I can walk you through the basic process, but it's obviously best to contact the state first, if you have a chance.
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So, I am planning on bringing this up to my boss today so that he may start thinking about when to hire a temporary worker to cover my job. I work for 8 attorneys. I am their only employee and basically the office manager/receptionist/legal assistant, so they will have to hire someone new for the time being. I have worked here for nearly 4 years (it will be 4 years when i take my maternity leave.) The firm does not have an established maternity leave policy, nor will I get paid for any of the time off.
So since I live in California I am entitled to 4 weeks of disability leave (before due date) and 6 weeks of FLA leave (bonding time.) The state will only pay a certain percentage of my salary, so I am starting to save up my own money to be able to pay my bills during my time off and just have that disability & fla pay for groceries and baby needs.
Now you can not save those 4 weeks of disability leave for until the baby is here - they MUST be taken BEFORE DUE DATE and the 6 weeks must be taken AFTER due date.
So.. I am planning on taking time off work 4 weeks before my due date, but I am not sure how much time to take off after the baby is here. I do not feel like 6 weeks is enough, plus that's why I am saving up some cash on my own as well. I am afraid to ask for too much time off. Idealistically I would like to take off an additional 12 weeks off after the baby is here, but I feel like ide be asking for too much so am planning on asking for 8 to 10 weeks.
However, if I take 4 weeks before due date off and 10 weeks after that would be a total of 14 weeks off. Is that too much to ask for?!
Do you think 10 weeks is enough time to be at home with a newborn!?
I know it depends on the person, Ide just like to get a basic view on this.