Seeking Advice on FMLA

K.,
You need to familiarize yourself w/the Federal Family & Maternity Leave Act. I know some other moms who have worked for a company which had the same maternity leave terms, as your company seems to have. Only 3 of them had used up their sick time, to get the paid maternity leave. The others just worked right up til a week before their due dates. Its really up to you, K., how you want to go about this. But if I were in your position, I would definitely get to know the Federal FMLA - and know it well - before making any decisions. Good Luck & congratulations on the new baby!

that sounds about what it is for everyone.. I didn't know that I had to use my sick time up first (my benefits person didn't know what she was doing at the time). try to go those 6 weeks now without depending on your paycheck.

Hi K.,

If your company offered a short- term disability plan that would be great. However, you would have had to sign up for it prior to being pregnant. Do you have vacation time? Your company,by law, can allow you to use your vacation time while on FMLA as well. Obviously you would not want to use all of your vacation time. Maybe you could use enough time each week to get a check that would allow you to get by. Your company can also let you do that - get paid for 20 and take 20 unpaid.

When did u start working for this firm? if its under 1 year than you are probably not entitled to more than 5 weeks.In this case you take unpaid leave.

any ? email me

Hi K.,

My company didn't offer any maternity leave at all. However, I did have short term and long term disability. So I called the insurance agency and asked about maternity leave. They paid 60% of my pay check for short term disability. If I delivered naturally it was for 6 weeks, if it was C-Section it was for 8 weeks. I happened to have a C-Section. So... if your company offers short term disability, check it out. It starts the day you deliver and you get your first check 7 days later.

Hi K.
I was put on bedrest two weeks before I had my daughter and six weeks after. They paid for that time plus 6 weeks after she was born. At 6 weeks, unless my doc said no, I had to return to work.

When she was 8 weeks old, I began hemorraging as a result of labor and was out of work for 3 weeks. They paid for that too.

Hi K.,

It is so stressful trying to figure out the way to spend the maximum time with your newborn. Look into the short-term disability law. If your company offers this plan, and you pay into it, then you can get 60% of your (I think) your gross pay, otherwise your net pay. You would get six weeks for a vaginal delivery or eight weeks for c-section.
I hope this helps...every bit of time is the best for you and your baby.