What to Expect: Page 2
From Your Maternity Leave
by The Cradle Staff
(cont'd)
How Can I Find Out What Benefits My State Offers?
Each state has its own provisions for maternity leave. While they vary, they might be more generous than the FMLA. It also pays to know your company’s policies. Some offer maternity paid leave as a benefit; others carry temporary disability insurance which can be used toward maternity leave. If your company goes the insurance route, you will most likely be paid 60% of your salary during the weeks you are off.
If you live in Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, California or Puerto Rico, you can take advantage of temporary disability insurance. These states have plans in place that will pay a certain amount for maternity leave but only for the weeks mom is physically recuperating from giving birth.
To find out your state’s provisions, contact your state’s department of labor. Or visit the National Partnership for Women and Families for the following report:
Expecting Better – A State by State Analysis of Parental Leave Programs
Next Steps
Well before your due date arrives (federal guidelines require at least 30 days notice before you plan to take your leave), approach your boss or manager with your wishes. Find out what laws protect you, ask other employees how similar situations were handled, and learn your company’s specific policies.
Offer to be a consultant for your fill-in, or provide training for a short period of time. Consider whether working from home would be possible and sketch out a plan to present to your boss. When you return to your job you may be able to work out a more flexible schedule or work from home part of the time. Whichever scenario works for you and your company, make sure to set realistic expectations for yourself… and your company. While some women can jump right back into work, don’t be discouraged if the transition is a little more difficult than you anticipated.
Although we all hope for smooth, complication-free pregnancies, you should consider the possibility that your pregnancy may not go perfectly. You may develop complications requiring bed rest (in which your weeks off will be eaten up) or you may deliver prematurely (requiring you to care for a newborn for a longer period of time).
Approach your boss with professionalism, honesty and a friendly tone. Get straight to the point.
If you need a little leverage and have a solid track record, you might want to bring this up to your manager. Point out that replacing you could take just as long as the time off you are requesting. Bargain with your boss, but be reasonable. When you come to an agreement, get it in writing.
If your boss is unwilling to accommodate what you feel you are legally entitled to, you can appeal to the regional office of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour division. But save this step as a last resort. Making demands and resorting to such drastic measures might alienate your boss. Your goal is to draft a plan to satisfy your company and ensure that you get the time you need with your new baby.
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