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01-09-2013 at 9:23 AM
SwetaV
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No Maternity Leave?!?

Just found out today that my company doesnt offer any type of paid maternity leave!  I didnt sign up for STD as every other company I have worked for, big or small, has offered some sort of maternity leave.  I get FMLA which is fine, but its not paid.  Not sure if anyone has any suggestions on ways around this or things I can do to help, but i'd appreciate any input.

 
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01-09-2013 at 9:26 AM
mburkhe
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I have to use all of my vacation/sick time to be paid for my leave, after that time is used up the rest of my leave will be unpaid.

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01-09-2013 at 9:29 AM
mabenner1
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The only thing you can do is use any vacation/ paid time off you may have accumulated. There is no way "around" these things.
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01-09-2013 at 9:29 AM
mrsf123
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I don't get any paid mat leave.  DH and I just save our money before we have a LO so I can take the time off I need!
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01-09-2013 at 9:34 AM
plunderb
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Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

 
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01-09-2013 at 9:35 AM
lillyq1982
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I work for a large medical device company and they have no maternity leave policy (ironic right?).  I just have to use STD and then FMLA. 
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01-09-2013 at 9:52 AM
magdalina....
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Mine doesn't have maternity leave either. I use my personal time with my STD.
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01-09-2013 at 10:06 AM
kestock120
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Unfortunately like everyone else said all you can do is use your vacation/sick time.

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01-09-2013 at 10:14 AM
leahaustin
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My company does not offer paid maternity leave either but I will have two weeks vacation and about one week pto time saved up. I will just take the last three weeks unpaid.
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01-09-2013 at 10:34 AM
Jilly82
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None for me either. I use my personal and sick days
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01-09-2013 at 10:36 AM
Melanieian
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Most U.S. companies do not have maternity leave, I honestly can't think of anyone I know that has ever been on paid maternity leave. I have 4 weeks vacation and I'll have about 1 1/2 weeks of personal time and 2 floating holiday days that I'll be using plus we are saving money for the time that I am off.
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01-09-2013 at 10:41 AM
jdebaie
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I only get FMLA as well and have to use my sick/vacation time if I want to get paid.  Totally sucks!
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01-09-2013 at 11:01 AM
sweetpea20...
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That is typical in the US.  I am a school counselor and was working in a public school system when I had my kids.  They didn't offer any paid maternity leave benefits at all (and think of how female-heavy the teaching profession is).  I had to use my sick/vacation and then FMLA (unpaid).  It is what it is. :(

On the other hand, my husband (military) got 2 weeks of paid paternity leave. haha.  Go figure. 

The only way "around it" is to carry special insurance like Aflac that has a maternity leave policy built in.  They usually will pay a certain % of your income for maternity leave if you have the right policy.  You are SOL though because you have to carry a policy 12 months before you can cash in for maternity benefits (so, you can't get a + pregnancy test then buy insurance with maternity bennies).
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01-09-2013 at 11:04 AM
1026pumpki...
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I have never worked for a company that did have a paid mat leave it was always paid through STD. 2 thoughts check with your state to see if there is a state disability program mine had one that I was paying into and never realized it!, and ask HR if you can enroll in your company's program after you deliver. A new baby is considered a "life event" and you can usually change all your insurance options at that time...it wouldn't cover leave before delivery and usually has a one week wait period, but it could cover your leave after delivery if you're allowed to enroll in it.
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01-09-2013 at 11:12 AM
JNL$LSM
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We do not have paid ML but we do have unlimited sick leave, right now I have 280 hours by the time LO comes I will have 344 hours of sick leave and 162 hours of annual leave. I will be taking 9 weeks off paid. DH will take 3 weeks paid and part time for week paid.

If I happen to go on bed rest I was given the opportunity to work from home so I will not have to use all my leave. If (God forbid) I run out of leave my Mom, Dad, close friends of the family, along with co-workers offer to give me leave so I will not go without pay. Thankfully.

I am sorry for those with no pay, that truly sucks.

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01-09-2013 at 11:54 AM
blush64
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plunderb:

Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

 

I find this wheel interesting. I am Canadian and we get a year off which is nice. I live in Ontario so it's actually 52 weeks. I know some places in Europe get more.

I think it's a horrible shame that something isn't being done to give mothers more time off (and/or fathers) in the USA.

 
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01-09-2013 at 11:56 AM
katharine2...
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plunderb:

Sorry, you're pretty much SOL (as most of us are, myself included). Like PP said, you can use vacation and sick leave (if you have it, I don't), but the US does not guarantee paid maternity leave for anyone.

There isn't much you can do about it, but a letter to your congressman and senator asking why the US is so behind every other developed country on this issue might help in the long run. If you feel that this is an important issue, make your voice heard. You can look up your congressperson's contact info here.

 

Definitely time to move to Canada!!

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01-09-2013 at 12:29 PM
dreadiemam...
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If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.


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01-09-2013 at 12:40 PM
homebird
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You can't "get around" company policy. :)

Unfortunately, in the US unpaid maternity leave is pretty common. I'd start saving up for your ML now!
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01-09-2013 at 12:45 PM
blush64
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dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.


FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

EDIT Should be more past. As a rule ONtario has been a "have" province although things have changed. The population is way higher than other provinces and the needs are different. As much as people in Canada love to hate it it is the place where most of the newcomers to Canada come and settle and has different needs than certain other provinces.

 
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01-09-2013 at 12:49 PM
dreadiemam...
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blush64:
dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.


FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

hmmmm... I was under the impression that Alberta paid the most with all the oil they are mining up there.  
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01-09-2013 at 12:55 PM
blush64
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dreadiemama:
blush64:
dreadiemama:

If you're moving to Canada I suggest Ontario or Quebec. They get most of the tax dollars.


FYI Ontario pays most of the tax dollars.

hmmmm... I was under the impression that Alberta paid the most with all the oil they are mining up there.  

I have edited but it doesn't address this right now. I don't have time at the moment to get into the whole equalization payments (transfer payments). (where they started, what isn't taken into consideration and where they are now)

 
 
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01-09-2013 at 1:03 PM
Lorlain
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I feel ridiculously lucky to have 12 full weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave and my husband gets 6-8 weeks of paternity leave. My company even offers 12 weeks of maternity/paternity leave for adopting a child.

I really can't believe there is no mandate in the US stating that companies must offer paid maternity/paternity leave.

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01-09-2013 at 1:05 PM
JLHeisler
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FMLA starts from the day you give birth.  So you use your sick days then go unpaid the remainder of the leave.
 
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01-09-2013 at 1:07 PM
anvloveskm...
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I think it is the norm that most companies do NOT offer paid maternity leave.  Mine was all unpaid with DD.  This time I signed up for AFLAC in advance, but you have to have that in place for 10 months prior to delivery.  Sorry, I think you are SOL.
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01-09-2013 at 1:11 PM
jenny1980
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I'm surprised you didn't look into this pre-pregnancy because as others have said, it's actually more common NOT to have paid leave. I work at a private school with excellent benefits and we don't even have paid leave here. I am taking STD (I had signed up through Aflac pre-pregnancy) and then using accrued sick and vacation time.

There really is no "way around it."

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01-09-2013 at 1:30 PM
MichelleDi...
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I've never worked anywhere in my almost 20 years of a career that had paid maternity leave.  It was always use your sick/vacation first, and then whatever STD was available (usualy 60-70% pay for up to 8-10 weeks), then FMLA covers you for the time off for the rest, but no pay. 

 In the US, it is more the standard to NOT offer any paid maternity leave.  It is very rare somewhere does here.  If you get anything at all, it is usually under STD, which usually requires using up any paid time off you have first. 

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01-09-2013 at 2:57 PM
IrishTrave...
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I have 12 weeks of paid maternity leave with another four weeks at partial pay. I'm crazyfortunate to work at a place that offers it. Most employers don't, and employees rely on STD, sick/vacation time, or nothing at all.
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01-09-2013 at 3:09 PM
foxyroxy
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Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees). 
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01-09-2013 at 3:23 PM
GhostMonke...
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foxyroxy:
Be thankful you get FMLA. I don't qualify for that, either (I've been at my job less than a year AND it has less than the required number of employees). 
All FMLA does is prevent them from firing for taking off time to have a child. Nothing more. You can still be let go if your position is eliminated while you are on leave and you would have been let go anyway.

 

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