maternity leave

[jessielynn2014]

Ok, the company I work for (Houston county board of education) does not offer maternity leave. We have to use our sick leave and vacation. I had applied for short term disability at open enrollment in October. They didn't send me any paperwork until after January and they are denying my bennifits because I'm pregnant. I really think it's bull ****. How many other mothers will not get a full 6 week maternity leave? I feel like such a bad mommie having to leave my baby after 3 weeks.

[jessielynn2014]

We need to get a Bill in Congress that allows at least 3 weeks of paid maternity leave just for us to get our affairs in order.

[jbow0027]

I work at a hospital and am going to take FMLA and its 12 weeks but unpaid. I did not know I was going to have a baby so sadly I didn't apply for short term disability. Luckily I am saving my tax refund for the time I am off.

[Whyme1116]

I dont get paid maternity....Im taking FMLA, however I will have to use up my Sick and Vacation time first......my maternity leave will end around December 2, so Im asking for an extension until January. No reason to come back for Christmas! Though, I must say, Im not sure my plan will work! That is a long time to go without pay :(

[wrogers11]

Holy moly I'm so lucky.. In Canada we get paid leave for a year.. it's only a portion of what you are normally paid but still..

[jessielynn2014]

Dnvmom the insurance company that we have through work won't cover it unless you are actively working. If you are pregnant that is considered a pre-existing condition and also won't cover you. Pretty much is complete bull hockey if you ask me.

[KimberlyGore]

I'm in Scotland and my company offer 12 weeks at 90% pay then I go down to statutory maternity pay which is what the government give you and it's only £138 a week huge drop in money for me that will be for the remaining time of the 9 months and the last 3 months is unpaid if I decide to take the year. The people who don't work get more than what I will. Kinda frustrating.

[dnvmom]

My company doesn't have maternity leave either. So I have to go on short term disability. I went on with my first baby and it was really easy as long as your doctor fills out and signs your paper work you should get it. But it won't start until a week after you stop working, they will back pay you though. Good luck.

[jessielynn2014]

We can't afford for me to take unpaid time off we have to have both checks for us to get by. Wish my husband had a job that could pay all of our bills. I wouldn't worry about taking unpaid leave.

[afilip81]

I'm in Florida and had the same thing happen to me with applying for short term disability. I applied at open enrollment before I was even pregnant ( back in October) and got the paperwork in January, then was denied for being pregnant by then. I will be using what saved days off I have for pay & then will be taking the rest of the time off unpaid. I'm using FLMA to take a full 12 weeks off.

[Amers0808]

I'm not getting any paid leave. But my company is ok with letting me take 12 weeks. It's going to be rough financially but we'll make it. I'm working a ton of hours now so we can bank done money fit the 12 weeks.

[KatsX]

You could move to Estonia too, it's close to Sweden, here we have a year and a half paid maternity leave:) And job is kept till 3 years.

[Shaynaruth]

In the public school system here in NY, we get 6 weeks unpaid leave, and we can use our sick days to supplement if we would like.  If your school district has a union, contact them.  Many districts have a sick day "pool" where, if you don't have enough sick days to cover you on a maternity leave, they can find you sick days.  

I'm due this summer, and will only be taking about 4 weeks off of school (since the baby will be born during school vacation) but I'll be home with the baby a total of 8 weeks.  

Best of luck to you.  The US needs a REAL maternity leave... Paid.

[Rachel__grace_]

Yeah, the way maternity leave/fmla at my job works is that you can take up to 12 weeks off and still be guaranteed to have your job when you return. However to 'pay' for those 12 weeks you have to use a combination of your earned vacation and sick leave. I had a baby 2 years ago and was only able to take 5 weeks off since i was relatively new and didnt have much sick time or vacation. This time around I'll take at least 8 weeks, if not more.

Maybe we should all move to Sweden... their maternity leave is 420 days paid ;)

[MelB317]

By law the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to be able to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave and keep your job...however if you're taking about paid maternity leave I'm not surprised...I don't think there are many places here in the US that offer paid maternity leave...also if you get health benefits through your job make sure you have worked out a way to pay your portion of those benefits before your leave or you may be asked to pay during your leave which ***** if you're on a tight budget

[babylove815]

I might be wrong but I thought that by law you are granted 6 weeks for maternity leave?