Paid Maternity Leave?

Posted: Tue, Jun 05 2012, 4:20 pm Post subject: Paid Maternity Leave?

My due date is approaching. I have yet to have 'the talk' with my employer about returning to work and/or taking maternity leave (though I did tell them I'm expecting, of course!!).

I'm curious what the normal/average ideal out there is... Did you return to work? Did you get paid during your 6 week maternity leave? Got more? Got less?

I work in a small office... no official rules here... I want to know what I can expect and what I can request.

Thanks!

Gold Member Joined: Mar 16 2009 Posts: 2287

Are you in the US? Is the office big enought that FMLA applies to you?

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2009 Posts: 4600

I work in a small office of a small school. Less then 50 employees.

I don't have a contract per say, but we made up in writing salary, vacations etc before I took the position.

I had 2 weeks of paid maternity. I took off 6.5 weeks (week 7 I worked part time). I also used up all my remaining sick and vacation days during maternity leave and I had about 2.5 weeks that I was not paid for.

I do not live in NY.

(In this school all the teachers also only get 2 weeks paid- tho you can take off as much time as you need.)
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Posted: Tue, Jun 05 2012, 4:51 pm Post subject: re: Paid Maternity Leave?

Thanks for your replies so far.

Yes, I'm in NY. Sorry for missing that important tidbit.
And, I work with less than 50 employees. As a matter of fact, in my location, I'm the only one here.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

Unfortunately it does not seem like you will have any paid leave. Even companies over 50 employees for which the FMLA applies, it is not paid leave but rather that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid and they need to restore you to your former or a comparable position w/ same work arrangement.

I don't officially have paid maternity leave but I have short term medical disability coverage as a benefit through work so get paid a percentage of my salary that way...but only for the medically necessary portion (6 weeks for natural birth, 8 weeks for C-section). In the past I've taken off 12 weeks with the last 6 weeks unpaid (I save up for it throughout my pregnancy).

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

You say your office has "no official rules." Did you discuss pay and benefits when you started work or at any time since then? Do you get paid vacation or sick time? Do you have any disability coverage (through your work or the state)?

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5874

In such a small office I highly doubt you'll get anything, especially if they'll need to hire a substitute and you won't take work home with you. Paid maternity leave is not standard at all in NY. If you have paid sick/personal days then you can use those.

Executive Member Joined: May 09 2010 Posts: 487

Ooops, I answered but do not live in NY so I guess my vote doesn`t count, but I don`t know how to take it off...

Silver Member Joined: Feb 26 2008 Posts: 667

FMLA applies to the company as whole, not an individual site (unless they list themselves as a separate entity). If there are over 50 employees u r entitled to time off. If not, and you r paid on the books, ur employer should be paying disability ins for u and u will be eligible to wtvr they pay (usually a percentage of ur salary)
I am pretty sure in NYS disability ins is mandatory and birth is a covered benefit.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653