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!

[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.

[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!!

[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! =)

[LosingMyMindInGA]

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

[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.

[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.