Maternity Leave.

[LauraB78]

Ok, so I know this has been talked about a MILLION times, but I am curious how maternity leave works for each person on this board. Where do you live, what is your companies policy, paid or unpaid,& duration? This sparked my interest through another post I read, so I decided to start a new post to ask instead of hijacking someone else's post. This doesn't apply to me, I am not currently pregnant. But I am SUPER curious for feedback. Thanks all! Hope everyone is well!

[LauraB78]

**Bump!**

[smjmekg]

I have never ending maternity leave! Lol, I'm a stay at home mom. Not to rub it in anyone's face, I'd actually like to be working, but with my nearby future plans, and having another baby due in Dec, it's not going to work unless I have a from home job.

[mami1323]

Well it all depends on your company.  State disability which most companies follow, can vary of course depending on the state you live in.  I live in NY, and my company only gives me 6 weeks.  Since we have less than 50 employees they don't have Family Medical Leave Act.  So I couldn't extend my maternity leave.  However, they did let me take more time but it was unpaid leave.  Which is what FMLA is technically.  They didn't have to give me extra time but they asked when I would like to return, I told them when and they gave it to me.  Unfortunately due to my extreme swelling, I left work a month earlier than expected and so I extended my time out so I could spend more time with the baby.  All companies have their own policies.  Some are really kind to their employees.  I know in Canada some companies give 1 year of maternity leave paid at 100%.  I only got paid 60% for those 6 weeks.  

[LauraB78]

Before my son was born, this was my company policy: 12 weeks FMLA leave honored. NO pay, and you were required to use all available vacation & sick pay. My job was only guaranteed to me if I returned to work after my 12 weeks, 1 day past my alloted FMLA leave would have been grounds for termination, or filling an abandoned position. My company also did not pay into any type of disability for employees, had I known that when I started my job, I would have self payed for a disability plan so I could have collected something.. I ended up leaving my job when I was 38 weeks pregnant and did not return. I am currently a SAHM desperately trying to find a decent job. I live in the US, and more specifically, I live in MA..

[mami1323]

That's awful, it really is.  I feel like US companies and even the state laws do not protect women who are pregnant.  To return to work after such a short period of time is disgusting.  I cried my eyes out because my son was only 2 months old.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I've only worked with 2 of my pregnancies. But I'll tell you how it was with those.

The first I worked up until the day I had her.  I was actually supposed to go back to work after my appt that day but I ended up needing an emergency c-section.  It was unpaid leave ( I worked for a small office) and I only took a month.  My job was supposed to be temporary until I gave birth but my boss asked me to come back

With the 2nd I worked full time.  I was going to work until I went into labor but was so miserable and knew I was going to be induced on my due date I started my leave 5 days ahead of time. It was also unpaid (worked for a family owned/small construction company).  I took a full month of leave then went back part time for two weeks, but was able to take my son with me until he turned 6 weeks and could start daycare.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

OH and the first one I lived in Virginia, second one in Georgia

[LauraB78]

I agree that the US maternity leave isn't great & definitely leaves room for a lot of reform, BUT I find that when push comes to shove, having babies is a decision, and SHOULD be a financial decision as well. It is NOT an employers responsibility or choice for women to pop out child(ren). BUT I am torn, I feel like women should have some sort of paid leave, but I guess in Canada, they get a YEAR off PAID and that seems excessive to me. I would HATE to be an employer in Canada.. That's FOR SURE! =)

[Limonada]

I'm in Canada and we get a year off here, paid through employment insurance benefits.  It's a far cry from my regular salary, but it's certainly enough to live on, combined with DH's income.

I really cherish this time to be with my little boy, see him achieve all of those first milestones.  My little guy is 5.5 months old and I'll be back to work in February 2011.  When I was on maternity leave the last time, I was actually raring to get back to work at the end of the year and I suspect the same will be true this time - I really enjoy my career and can't imagine being a SAHM full-time - but that's just me.  I truly admire SAHM's because I know through my small taste of it, being on mat leave, that it's hard, hard work!!

I really hope that things change for your girls in the US with regards to maternity leave and benefits:  I can't imagine returning to work after just a few short weeks!!

[jschoch8]

i live in NJ and the fmla is for 26 weeks. My company pays for 13 weeks, so i will not be getting paid for the other 13 weeks (taking the whole 26). I am also taking off the 4 weeks before her birth, using my short term disability benefits. the short term disability and the 13 weeks paid are my full salary.

[bluegenie2003]

I would kill to have a whole year to be able to stay home with Braeden. I"m lucky in that I'm a teacher, and the timing worked so that when my maternity leave ended (unpaid) summer had started, so I'm able to stay home with him until he's 16 weeks. However, that's coming up quick, in just 4 weeks, and I'm already dreading going back and leaving him. I love my job, but he's my world right now, and I can't imagine leaving him for 8 hours a day :-(

[Steph_b]

I work in New Hampshire and I get 12 weeks off with FMLA.  6 week are paid at 80% salery.  the rest of the time I can either use my earned time, or use unpaid time off.  I also have the option of going back part time to extend my leave.  I am taking the first 8 weeks off, and then going back 20 hours a week for the next 8 weeks instead of taking 12 weeks completely off.  

[LauraB78]

What are your taxes like? What % of your income is paid to your goverment? It MUST be 50%...AT LEAST..

[LauraB78]

The income you are going to recieve.. Is that through a state or employer paid disability program? Because FMLA is unpaid, at least in MA

[Limonada]

We pay pretty high taxes compared to you guys, I think.  But then again, we have universal health care here, too, and we don't pay out of pocket  for doctors' visits, etc......

[Spiket77]

I work for myself. It's a little tricky for me because I have to keep my clients happy. I work out my home office and can be mobile too. I'm finishing up a lot of projects two weeks before my due date and not starting any new till 6 weeks after my due date.

I know some women with office jobs work from home for a while. That might be something to look into. Also, another popular and more recent trend is giving new Mom's Flex Schedules. They work 1/2 days in the office and 1/2 form home.

Wow, Canada hooks up Mothers!

[msteri]

I live in Florida.  The company I work for offers unpaid medical leave for 12 weeks with at least a 30-day notice.

[msteri]

Oh, yeah, I forgot...I was without pay for 6 weeks, but I made an arrangement with my boss and got approved by HR to work from home for the last 6 weeks at 100% pay.  It's not the norm though.

[LauraB78]

Your taxes must be insane!! I would NEVER want to hand over that much money OR control to my government.. I know you all have universal health care. I am not a fan of that idea either, but that's a whole other topic.. Do you know what % of your income is taxed? For example.. If you grossed $600/week, how much would you take home in Canada (approx)?

[Spiket77]

Actually they only pay from $300-$900 a year for health coverage. If you make less than $20,000 then you are exempt from the insurance tax. They pay less income tax than US citizens.

[LauraB78]

How would that be possible with free health care for everyone and apparently tons of paid leave for each child born? So, are you saying Canadians are basically totally reliant on their government to pick up all these tabs, and if so, it is hidden is some kind of tax somewhere, or else all of these programs would have failed., The government gets it $$ somewhere.. They may pay less income tax, but some tax of theirs MUST be incredibly higher.

[bhenneker]

I'm from Canada too and here also we get about $500 a month per child in lower income families i believe under $45000 a year (i might be wrong) to answer your other question if I were to make $600 take home would be around $400-$500 depending on the job. Also all our living expences are alot higher then the US. To feed a family of 5 cost about $300 a week (with mostly no name products)   And the free health care is great....:)

[Limonada]

It depends on your income.  If you make more, then you're taxed at a higher rate.  About 30% in my case, I think.  We get a child tax benefit, $100 per child up until the age of 6, plus, like bhenneker mentioned, there is another credit available to lower income families with young children.

Our governments choose to put their focus - and money - on different things, that's all.  Our military is not nearly as large or "developed" (for lack of a better word) as the US' for example.

[Limonada]

The $100 I mentioned is per month, per child....