Request for Maternity Leave At Work

[StarPatience]

Hello Ladies. How many of you have told your employer about your pregnancy and requested time off? What did you say in your letter, email etc. I am having a hard time trying to figure out how to put this letter together together. I guess its the nerves in me lol. My company doesnt have a maternity leave policy, however the state that I live in requires employers of eligible pregnant employees to grant 8 weeks unpaid leave.

   Any suggestions on how I should start my letter? I dont want to sound pushy I guess thats y Ive procrastinated.

HELP!! lol :-)

[StarPatience]

Laura-http://www.mass.gov/mcad/maternity1.html#1 Thats the link for what the act is all about. I had no clue about it either until I began to google lol. I love the Galleria too, but it can get boring if you go there too much lol. They are opening a new resturant there. I P.F. Changs. Its suppose to be big so who knows where it will be. Check it out in a couple of months :-)

Happy_mommy-I'm going to check it out now. Thanks so much@

[happy_mommy]

I posted on your January Thread. Check there too!

[LauraB78]

Odd, I have never heard of MMLA.. Hmph.. Thats a bummer! =(

I love the Cape too! BUT I LOVE Cambridgeside Galleria! You get the coolest shopping plaza! PLUS a Cheesecake Factory! LOL

[StarPatience]

I heard about the FMLA. But because I work for a small company, I dont qualify :-(. I guess its if your company has 50 or more employees (something in that nature). Since there are very few employees at my job, Im only entitled to the MMLA which is still good considering some states dont have any maternity rights... so I hear.

Im around Cambridge. I love the cape. Its sooo far from where I am. Almost as if we are a state apart! lol

[LauraB78]

I live in MA too, and by FMLA you get 12 weeks unpaid. Its a federal law which I believe always supercedes and state law? You should look into it. And I told my employer right away, but I didnt go on maternity leave until 2 weeks before my son was born and that was because I was sick. I had planned to work right up until I had him. I think it depends on you and work situation and how comfortable you are with your boss and what that relationship is, you know? Where in MA are you? I am on the Cape.

[StarPatience]

Im MA. They have a law called the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act or the MMLA.

[LauraB78]

Where do you live?