maternity leave vent

[lena6238]

So I work at a fast food restaurant (bk). I have been a shift manager for two years. It is a huge franchise with hundreds of locations in multiple states. I live in minnesota. I do not get paid anything at all for maternity leave. I have to go on fmla. I can use my one week of vacation I get per year but that's it. I couldn't believe it when I found this out. I have yet to come across someone who's job does not offer some sort of pay for maternity leave in my area. I can take up to a year or something like that but its not paid so it basically only gurantees I will have my job when I come back. I am taking 8 wks because my family is pitching in to help out for a baby gift. Otherwise I couldn't afford to take more than two weeks. I'm working up until I deliver because I really have no choice financially. Its just so frustrating. Anyone else in the same or similar boat as me? Sorry its so long..

[queenspade]

You apply for disability when you leave for Maternity.  I believe they pay you for 6-8 weeks depending on if you have a C-section or not.  

[lena6238]

Thanks ladies I feel a little better to know I'm not the only one. I'm not sure about short term disability I think it may be included in fmla?? I will definitely ask someone in HR. Thanks :) sorry to hear your boss did that to you, have you tried to apply for any assitance? I have medical assitance and I don't know what I would do without it. Its insane imo that the u.s. doesn't offer anything similar to the uk for maternity leave...

[Bri_1985]

They dont offer anything called Short Term Disability? I used to work fast food and that was a benefit I had to sign up for through work. That was what I used when I was pregnant with my last two.

I now work for a gas station though and talk about getting screwed - they dropped all of my benefits INCLUDING insurance back in November last year because my boss unexpected dropped me from full time to part time. So yeah... I feel your pain.

[tomorrow264]

I live in St.Paul, MN and my employer doesn't pay anything for maternity leave. Its actually more common then you'd think. I have to use whatever vacation/sick time I have saved.

[Franky91]

My work arent payin me but in the uk if ur work doesnt pay u the government pays u so am gettin 60 quid a week from them for 26 weeks but thats it, better than nothin

[Bree_05_15]

Omg I totally understand I work at taco bell! Its also a franchise nd we r aloud to take 3 months off for maternity leave buy no pay as well so ya it does suck I've decided I need to keep working until 37 weeks:(