30 weeks good time to quit work?

Question

ok so as I shared I only have 12 weeks FMLA not maternity leave and if I go on disability I have to count that time toward my FMLA I'm 27.3 weeks now and totally wearing down...I've been ready to quit for the past 3 weeks but haven't gotten to so I'm thinking if I work til 30 weeks I have 2 weeks vacation that would take me to 32 weeks without having to take my FMLA....but then I'd have to use it and since I don't know when my babies are going to come I don't know if I should try to work a bit longer......my Ob doesn't think I'll go past 37 weeks but if do then I could end up not having but a week or so for after they are born......so what are your opinions on what I should do.

peekawho · Answer

??

Do you think that the first 14 weeks of a new baby is "a break from work"??

Its the hardest work you will ever do.  Ever!  Best of luck, and have a good delivery!

anydaynow · Answer

Im due july 7th and my last day is gonna be june20th I have to use my 2weeks vacation before i have her and then I get 6weeks paid and than I'll use another 6 weeks unpaid called "baby bonding" so a total of 14 weeks off. I CANT WAIT for a break from work!!!

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

I don't think he really is worried cause they are trying to cut back and he could hire someone cheaper and they've already fired a bunch of ppl.....I hope he won't do that but I'm almost to the point I don't care....yeah I wanted to take my whole 12 weeks but since I know I can't work til delivery I won't have 12 weeks left.......so I'm just pushing for 8 still

peekawho · Answer

Coming back in 8 weeks is very ambitious with twins.  Even 12 weeks is very difficult.

peekawho · Answer

If you are a valued employee, your boss may huff and puff, but really...will he go to the trouble of terminating you, looking for a replacement, training the replacement, and getting him/her up to speed, all b/c you need to take a couple more weeks off?

He'd be stupid to do that.  Perhaps he is, perhaps he's blustering up a fake storm so you will be pressured into coming back early.

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

I haven't heard back from my boss I emailed him but he hasn't called me back.....I figured alot will depend on what my OB says tomorrow at my appt.  but I figured if I work til 32 weeks just shorter hours that would give me pleanty of time off after wards but I don't think my boss will agree to more than 8 weeks off after they are born unless I have the time coming to me...

Tanker Chic · Answer

I would try to tough it out as long as you can and just don't do a whole lot. I would be surprised if they expected a whole lot from at time gets closer and closer.  

Or, have you talked to your boss about taking more than FMLA?  Just because the law provides protection for up to 12weeks, doesn't mean they can't give you more time if you need it.  I took 5wks off while I was on bedrest and then 12wks after Jacob was born.

Nickey1 · Answer

Well sorry this info won't help you, BUT to others, the FMLA is good for 12 weeks within a calendar year, so if you go out of work like in September (like me) and if your doc approves it, then you could take the last 3 months of this year, and the first 3 months of next year, which would be 6 months.......I'd LOVE to do that, but I doubt if a doctor is going to approve it........PLUS as someone mentioned, I'd have to go from short term disability to long term

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

I guess I am lucky on that part but the part I'm not lucky is I can't quit when my body is telling me to cause if I use up my FMLA then I don't have a job to come back to.......well I shot my boss an email about working 7 hour days til the 27th guess we will go from there....now we just have to wait and see what he thinks

cpatow · Answer

I hate you B.E.G. You are so lucky!!!! Good luck with however you decide to go!!!

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

with my short term I will get 100% pay the insurance pays 60% and my company pays the other 40% so that's good ....

cpatow · Answer

I was in your gals' same boat. I'm new at my company and didn't qualify for either short-term disability OR FMLA b/c my company is only 5 employees so they are exempt. I have a second job w/ a big huge company (Intel) but as a contractor so no benefits AT ALL. So, Sheri72, like you I'm headed back to work next week from home at reduced hours ... as many as I feel like and can "squeeze" in durng the day but I've made it known that family and baby are first priority during what would be normal maternity leave (8 weeks for me as I was c-section). Once that is done then I'll still be working from home so that's a blessing!!! 

When we lived in California, leave was AWESOME. I ended up getting nearly 80% of my salary for 1 month prior and 2 months post. I worked for a phenominal company then, too, which made a difference. Quite the rude awakening to find out how different leave policies are from state to state! But we are blessed that while I do have to work I can do so from home during hours that are convenient for me. Can't imagine having to go into an office next week....I'd forgo the mascara, too!!!

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

couldn't have said it better myself....

jifnif · Answer

I know how you feel.  I work for drs and we have no maternity NONE!  I have no vacation left b/c I have used it all for my son who was sick this year like crazy and couldn't go to daycare.  Nuts!  He gets sick at daycare but you can't take them there when they are sick!!  So, knowing that we were going to need at least 2mths off for the baby we sacked away 2mths of pay for me.  Believe me, this was NOT easy!!  I haven't been able to buy mascara!!  You might laugh but what girl can't buy mascara, unless you are lucky enough to not need it!!  (then i hate you, hehe) but anyway......i have two mths that is it.  my boss will hold my job no problem but i cannot leave until i go into labor.  no matter how bad it gets!!  I was just thinking this morning how bad it is that we have to work 10 hr days and be prego.  My as* hurts form sitting, my legs swell if I stand.  I am sleepy and wanta cry some days.  But of course, do we have a choice?  NO.  Well, I don't.  So the only thing I can say girl, is stay in as long as physically possible and keep that time for you and your lil ones.  You will NEED it!!!  :)  Sorry if I sound opinionated today...I am.  All these hormones.

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

and thanks to momaofonetrying42 I just figured out another thing I could do I am currently scheduled 5-9 hours days......I could just work 7 hour days til the 27th and that would only make me use 5 day vacation or if my work would let me just count 40 hour week I'd only use up 20 hours vacation....and that would get me to 33 weeks then I could go on disability for the remaining time til the babies get here and I should still have pleanty of FMLA and vacation.

Sheri1972 · Answer

FMLA is the Family Medical Leave Act, and all that states is that your work cannot replace you while you are on leave due to any medical problem, including pregnancy.  It should last for 12 weeks.

Short term disability is different.  It has nothing to do with them replacing you on your job, but allows for you to take off of work and be paid at 60% of your normal pay due to a medical condition which is documented by a doctor.  Typically short term disability can be used for up to 13 weeks if I remember correctly.  After 13 weeks, you go on long term disability.  I don't know about you, but I don't pay for long term disability through my insurance so I wouldn't be able to get that.

It is often rather difficult to get a doctor to write a note for a natural delivery to get short term disability for longer than 6 or 8 weeks, but in your case, with twins, your doctor might put you on short term disability before the babies are born due to you having a high risk pregnancy.  Either way, once the clock starts ticking, you've got only as long as your doctor's note is good for to get your partial pay.  In your case, I would assume they would put you on for 13 weeks if they let you get off work early.  (I'm also assuming your short term disability is the same as mine... not sure if they are different lengths of time and pay out for everyone)

The unfortunate thing is.. yes, most companies will not let you either short term disability or FMLA, or take them back to back.  You have to take both at the same time.  So, if you go on short term disability, you should get 60% of your pay for up to 13 weeks, and at the same time you'll have to go on FMLA, which just protects your job for 12 weeks.

I'm facing the same thing, but I lucked out.  My company can't really do without me for 12 weeks, so like with the last baby, I'm going to take 3 weeks off (which I have in vacation anyway), and then work from home the rest of the 9 weeks at full pay.

Sheri

Brown Eyed Gurl · Answer

I thought they were no the same either since one is paid and one isn't but according to HR they say that I still have to use both and so if I don't have my babies til 37 weeks that would leave me only 7 weeks and that would be ok but if my babies make it past 37 weeks then I'm gonna short on time afterwards I'd really like to have 8 weeks with them at least before coming backt to work..

babyprayers · Answer

I do not understand. FMLA is not the same as disability. so... if you have a natural child birth, you really need 6 weeks of disability to heal. Isnt that correct?? I Know if my doctor pulls me out of work early, it will be on disability, which means you are unable to perform your job due to a medical condition.. so what is the problem with your job, I would check with your state disability act. when people hurt themselves and are put on disability, they cannot work..