| Author |
Message |
    
originaljade
Citizen
Username: Originaljade
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 12:08 pm: | 
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I started my current job at the end of May and am due at the end of March, so I will only have been at my job about 10 months when I need to take my maternity leave. My company is in New Jersey, but the parent company is located in New York. I would like to take a 12-week maternity leave, but since I will have been at the company less than 12 months I won't qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act. I have contacted my company's human resources dept and am waiting to hear from them, but I wanted to see if anyone has had any experience in this area. Does anyone know what benefits I qualify for, such as short-term disability? |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1326
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 12:24 pm: |
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Can they deny you 12 weeks leave? I didn't think so. Is your concern getting the time off or getting full pay? My understanding was that NJ has better leave policies than NY. I assume you work for a large company because I think smaller companies sometimes don't have the same rules -- my company is just 2 people and I didn't get any disability -- luckily bossman paid me for my 12 weeks and hired me a temp to help out (and warned me not to get knocked up again b/c it was a huge inconvenience to him! ) |
originaljade
Citizen
Username: Originaljade
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 12:37 pm: |
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My concern is with getting some pay during my time off - I am not expecting to get full pay for the entire 12 weeks. The NJ office I work in has only about 30 people, but the parent company is very large. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 148
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 6:24 pm: |
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originaljade- I had the same thing happen to me when I was pregnant with my son. It was a New Jersey Company, and I worked in New Jersey. I got the pay, but not my job back. (thank goodness I didn't want it) They told me I could re-apply and if there was something open they would be happy to have me back, but wouldn't guarantee me a position. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 349
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 7:48 pm: |
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I can’t state the law here but this is what we do. After 1 year of employment you are authorized to full maternity leave with pay. If you need to have maternity leave prior to that your job is guaranteed, unfortunately it’s unpaid, and your review time begins when you return. I’m not sure but I think this is because employees are on probation for 1 year. We also have a program where you can reduce your compensation for more personal days when you return (male or female), reports have shown that this will retain key employees because they don’t feel they have to go part time. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 350
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 7:57 pm: |
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Just to add as far as males go, they get about a week and a half before and two to three weeks after. They are asked to attend some meetings if they are in a high profile position. |
Chalmers
Citizen
Username: Chalmers
Post Number: 19
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 3:43 pm: |
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Maternity leave under both the New Jersey and federal Family and Medical Leave Acts apply only to employers with 50 or more employees. The firm I work for is too small to qualify, but I do get some money from New Jersey Temporary Disability. Their phone number is (609) 292-7060. I filled out a form that had to be signed by both my employer and doctor. The benefits are up to four weeks prior to birth and four weeks after birth. I am not sure if you would qualify since you've been with your employer less than a year, but it doesn't hurt to ask. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1339
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 3:59 pm: |
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Something I am always scared to bring up IRL -- do you think it is sleazy to take maternity leave to it's fullest extent and then quit upon your return or is that just an option which is yours to take?
BTW -- I am not pregnant and if my boss is reading over my shoulder, do not fear, I am not going anywhere ... voluntarily. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 783
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 4:20 pm: |
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Wouldn't NJ law apply, since that's where you're working? I don't think the location of company headquarters matters.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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woodstock
Citizen
Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 436
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 4:31 pm: |
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Algebra,
Not sure if it's sleazy, but a lot of people do it. My wife, on the other hand, was on maternity leave, and got laid off about a week before she was due to go back. She was working at a magazine, and the magazine folded.
If you think about it, leaving after maternity leave at least allows a company to see how they can fill the vacancy. If they like the person that was filling in, they might offer them the job. And if others were picking up the slack, they've just found a "great" productivity boost.
Better than giving a measly two weeks notice, where the company might need to scramble to find someone qualified.
Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him
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redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 149
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 5:35 pm: |
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algebra--the other reason people do that is to keep their benefits. If they quit before maternity leave, they lose all their benefits, and would have to pay out of pocket, or COBRA. Although I don't agree with it, I do understand why someone would do it. |
ASH
Citizen
Username: Ash
Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 9:08 am: |
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I think it's absolutely not sleazy (coming from a person who was also laid off shortly before I was supposed to return from my maternity leave, and is now happily collecting unemployment). Our country and corporate system, for the most part, does so little to support mothers and families in general. I say new moms should take whatever they are entitled to and make their own decision on whether or not to come back in their own good time. Plus, you can't know how you will feel until you've spent some time at home with the baby. |
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