No maternity leave?

[Camicar]

I work for the govt, and we have maternity leave exactly as described by the OP, except there is no short term disability. You save up your leave, both vacation and sick leave and use that, or take leave without pay.

Same story here working for the state gov't in a professional union position. ALso -- Both mothers and fathers could take up to six months of leave. If you had any vacation and sick time, you could use any or all of it during your leave. Otherwise it was completely unpaid.

In our case, bec we'd begun saving for leave when we first started to try to conceive and then we had infertilty and it took forever, we were able to save quite a bit of money. Because we'd been saving for so long and between the two of us, we were able to take a year off (a definite example of something negative turning into a positve). But most people returned to work any where from 2-6 weeks after birth. We were the definite exception.

I think if I were in the US I would be demanding more of the government around this issue. It sounds to me like they hardly get involved.

The truth is that employers not only do not want pregnant employees, they actually do not want parents working for them either. They therefore want to do everything in their power to discourage people from returning to work after having a baby bec their first allegiance will no longer be with the company (the mistake being in thinking that an employee's first allegiance was EVER first to the company). Parents are unreliable and expensive employees in the eyes of most employers. They make say otherwise, but that is definitely how most employers in my experience reallly feel.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I'd just like to say that this is very very different than how maternity and parental leave. I think the way that you've described maternity leave working sucks!

In Canada, you can take a whole year off after/during/before you've had a baby. The government foots the bill so you continue to have some income. There are two types of leave. 1. Maternity Leave and 2. Parental Leave. Both can (and most often are) used in combination. Maternity Leave is for working parents and can be taken for 15-17 weeks. Then Parental Leave kicks in for 35 weeks. On top of that, you are entitled to 2 weeks vacation time.

For more info: http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/maternity.asp

I think if I were in the US I would be demanding more of the government around this issue. It sounds to me like they hardly get involved.

I hate to say it, but I think the culture in the USA must be very different than the Canadian culture. With that much paid maternity leave, some women would be milking the system dry, having baby after baby they couldn't afford, in order to make $$$ without working. Until I worked in the health care system, I never believed women would have babies in order to qualify for subsidized housing, food stamps, and welfare. I was so naive!

To the OP, I work for a large company and what you are describing is the norm for my company and in my geographical area.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I hate to say it, but I think the culture in the USA must be very different than the Canadian culture. With that much paid maternity leave, some women would be milking the system dry, having baby after baby they couldn't afford, in order to make $$$ without working. Until I worked in the health care system, I never believed women would have babies in order to qualify for subsidized housing, food stamps, and welfare. I was so naive!

To the OP, I work for a large company and what you are describing is the norm for my company and in my geographical area.

You can't just have baby after baby and continue to receive benefits because Employment Insurance is something you pay into and that's where the money comes from for maternity leave. It is something every parent is entitled to. Like I said, this leave is offered to working parents. It's something we all pay into and, in my opinion, everyone deserves time to spend with their infants. I mean, we don't even take puppies away from their mothers as quickly as it seems to happen with some employers demands in the US.

 

[merryweather20]

I hate to say it, but I think the culture in the USA must be very different than the Canadian culture. With that much paid maternity leave, some women would be milking the system dry, having baby after baby they couldn't afford, in order to make $$$ without working. Until I worked in the health care system, I never believed women would have babies in order to qualify for subsidized housing, food stamps, and welfare. I was so naive!

To the OP, I work for a large company and what you are describing is the norm for my company and in my geographical area.

Nope, in fact EI (from which benefits are paid) has had a huge surplus in Canada for years, and our family sizes are fairly similar to yours.

 

[candykisses]

At our company you couldn't use all of your sick time because we get 39 weeks. Would have been nice though.

I had my boys before FMLA. With each pregnancy my OB had me stop work at 36 weeks. I received sick pay from that day to the day I delivered. Starting the day I delivered and for the next 6 weeks, I had maternity leave which was at full pay. I had saved 4 weeks vacation then took another 4 weeks without pay.

With Ryan it worked out that I stopped work on Sept 10. I delivered him on Oct 21. I didn't go back to work until Jan 28. It was a nice leave.

 

[aprilgail2]

I used 2 months work of sick days (we accumulate them every year and can save them) and I used 5 weeks of paid vacation I had saved up then I used 5 personal days I had saved up so I could be out for 3 1/2 months and get paid for it all- then I took off another 2 weeks FMLA and didn't get paid for that...

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

In our company you are unpaid from the day the doctor writes you out of work on an approved disability (pregnancy included) until the 30th day of your disability. Then the disability insurance kicks and and you get 60% or your gross pay, minus taxes, until the doctor writes you back in to work. In the case of the birth of a child, you get disability pay through six weeks after the birth.

We do let people use any sick time or vacation time during the first 30 days, before the disability kicks in. Also, if an employee has worked for our company for 5 years or longer, our company will pay them 60% of their pay until the disability kicks in.

We do allow our employees to take more time if needed. However, this is unpaid.

Regarding the taxes deducted from disability checks, this is how it works for us. If the employee pays his own disability premium, then taxes are not withheld from their disability checks. If the company pays their disability premium, taxes are withheld.

 

[barkley]

It is 2 different issues. First is the time off (whether or not paid). If the company has 50 employees within 75 miles and you have worked 1250 hours in the past 12 months then you are eligible for 12 weeks of leave. Family medical leave is unpaid. It guarantees you the same position when you return (there are some exceptions). However if you have used FMLA in the past 12 months then that time is deducted from what you have available. So if you took 5 weeks to care for a sick parent you only have 7 weeks for your pregnancy.

If your company doesn't fall under FMLA then you need to see if your state has an maternity labor law. Your company may not treat you any different than an employee who was out for another injury. So if your company gives time off for an employee who isn't covered by FMLA then a pregnant woman should get it also. However if your company doesn't fall under either FMLA or another maternity labor law; then it is up to the company how much time off to grant.

To be paid a company has several options. First is to offer paid leave (which is rare unless it is a large company). Second is a state plan. Only a few states have a plan and it is usually for a small sum (I believe NY is around $170 per week). Third, if the company allows you, use sick,vacation or PTO time. Fourth is short term disability. Most plans allow 6 weeks post partum (if there are no complications). There is a 5 day waiting period where you don't get paid.

Disability payments may be taxed. If the premiums are taken out of your paycheck pretax then the payments are taxable. If the premiums are taken out of your net pay (after taxes) then the payments are not taxable.

OP, it sounds like your boss is taking her paid time, then waiting a week and having her disabilty kick in.

Other than FMLA most labor laws are state specific. The best place to get particulars is from your state's dept of labor.

n.y. max is only $170 per week? in california it's based on your salary with the top being $882 per week. they also enacted the family leave sdi program, so if a baby is born or adopted the dh could take 6 weeks of paid (through sdi) leave as well (what a godsend for a new mom to have new dad home those first 6 weeks to help out)

 

[Dreaming of Disney]

I just had my 4th daughter 4 weeks ago. I had accumulated 180 hours of sick time that I am using, but after that any time I take is unpaid. I am taking 12 weeks, so things are a little tight around here right now.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Um Claire, are you trying to tell us something?

 

[Liberty Belle]

At my last place of employment, we got six weeks unpaid leave. I'd guess it's the same here (public school system), but I haven't looked into it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We have 1 year Maternity leave. It can also be shared by both parents. You can divide it any way you please..

This is at 55% of your salary..

Wow. That sounds awesome!

 

[Pakey]

n.y. max is only $170 per week? in california it's based on your salary with the top being $882 per week. they also enacted the family leave sdi program, so if a baby is born or adopted the dh could take 6 weeks of paid (through sdi) leave as well (what a godsend for a new mom to have new dad home those first 6 weeks to help out)

California also has CFRA which is a state addon to FMLA that allows you to take an additional 8 weeks (above the 6) where your employer must keep your job for you. So although you only collect 6 weeks of SDI benefits, you can take another 8 weeks off without compensation if you choose. CFRA has the same eligibility requirements as FMLA.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

You can't just have baby after baby and continue to receive benefits because Employment Insurance is something you pay into and that's where the money comes from for maternity leave. It is something every parent is entitled to. Like I said, this leave is offered to working parents. It's something we all pay into and, in my opinion, everyone deserves time to spend with their infants. I mean, we don't even take puppies away from their mothers as quickly as it seems to happen with some employers demands in the US.

Could a woman have a baby every year or two? I don't want to hijack this thread,, but I mean this as a serious question. I just don't see this working in the USA (a year of paid maternity leave with each child).

I'm all for paid maternity leave as long as there is equivalent sick leave/family leave (e.g., if a person could have a year's paid leave to care for an elderly family member). I just don't understand how the system wouldn't get sucked dry in the USA.

 

[Honu]

One of my HR subscriptions said that employers offering paid salary continuation for maternity leave dropped from 27% in 2005 to 13% in 2006. The firm I used to work for stopped offering it to new hires effective this year, but the state disability is available to them. The ever rising cost of medical premiums is a big issue and other perks and benefits are disappearing.

 

[Feralpeg]

When I had DD, I could take up to three months off with no pay. My job was guaranteed for three months. If I took more, I was not guaranteed a return to the same position. There was no paid leave. I saved vacation and took six weeks off. The company still has the same policy. If a person has elected to take out short term disability insurance, it will kick in after three weeks without pay. In Missouri, I could not collect unemployment while on leave. A friend of mine was off on maternity leave at the same time I was off. She lived in California and was eligible to collect unemployment while off.

 

[DISUNC]

Its sad

 

[nskjerven]

Sounds about standard or above standard to me...
Ours is the same. You save up whatever vacation/sick time you have, then after that's depleted, you get 60% on the short-term disability. I think the wait is 2 weeks, though, so as long as you have at least 2 weeks built up of sick/vacation combined, you don't have any time completely without pay. That seems like the only odd part. Good luck to your boss, OP and her situation. I don't even know of many doctors who will release a woman back to work before 6 weeks. And I definitely don't know of a daycare that would take a baby younger than 6 weeks...

being self employed I can't understand the concept of not being able to work for 6 weeks. My business wouldn't survive if I opted for that when I had my first DD. Being self employed did allow me enough income to have a nanny for her in those early weeks too, but I paid for it.

Granted not everyone could be "ready" to work before 6 weeks, but I don't think it's because they aren't physically able to, so why would a doctor not release a person back to work.

With my first I was at my desk two days after giving brith, with my 2nd I waited a week.

I'd just like to say that this is very very different than how maternity and parental leave. I think the way that you've described maternity leave working sucks!

In Canada, you can take a whole year off after/during/before you've had a baby. The government foots the bill so you continue to have some income. There are two types of leave. 1. Maternity Leave and 2. Parental Leave. Both can (and most often are) used in combination. Maternity Leave is for working parents and can be taken for 15-17 weeks. Then Parental Leave kicks in for 35 weeks. On top of that, you are entitled to 2 weeks vacation time.

For more info: http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/maternity.asp

I think if I were in the US I would be demanding more of the government around this issue. It sounds to me like they hardly get involved.

I guess if we don't like the services our government will pay for we could complain or perhaps we could look to live in another country and have them paid for us?

I don't feel this is a government responsibility to fund my choice of having a family.

Ultimately the services that are paid to people are paid for by people. TAXES!!!!! I'd rather make decissions for my money than have a government make it for me. Of course I realize this is opening up this topic to debate what our government spends tax dollars on, but frankly that isn't something that I will debate, as I also feel that we don't have the input on those choices either. Guess I'd be happy in my own country/island...perhaps Castaway Cay would be a good spot for me

 

[HelenePA]

With my first I was at my desk two days after giving brith, with my 2nd I waited a week.

How sad to leave your 2 day old baby! Wonder what family leave would be like if it was the men giving birth to the babies?

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! Public school teacher here

In the 2 counties I've taught in, a teacher can be out for up to 6 weeks on "maternity leave", but we use our own sick days up, or else take "unpaid leave".