How long are you taking off?

Question

I got approved for 12 weeks unpaid. I have no pto or sick time, only savings for maternity leave. I was planning on taking 8 weeks off but last month my son needed surgery and now we owe almost $6000 for that. So I’m thinking about only taking 4-6 weeks off.. my first I took off for 10 weeks but felt like I could have gone back sooner but idk about going back at four weeks.... I work two twelve hour shifts a week. I’ll be going into debt if I take the 8 weeks

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:( this is so sad. I’m so sorry fellow American moms. <3

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I think the maternity leave in America is appalling, I'm from the UK and depending on where you work and how long you've worked there you get upto 12 months off, I get 9 months off paid with statutory maternity pay which is half my normal wage yes but I also get benefits ontop of that from the government

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In New Jersey, state pays you for temp disability 4 weeks prior, 6 weeks after for a vaginal delivery (8 for cesarean) and 6 weeks for bonding time. Dads are also now going to be getting 6 weeks paid bonding time through the state soon.

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I am so blessed the company i work for is amazing. I am using my pto i have built up now because i wanted to go out early and i don’t go back until 7/13. So thats about 19 weeks total all paid.

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I work part-time at a small non-profit. As a part-time employee, I don’t get PTO or sick time, and since we have less than 50 employees at our organization, FMLA isn’t an option. However, I am able to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, and that’s what I plan to do. Thank god our due date falls around tax season, and my husband’s two week leave will be paid. If it weren’t for the tax refund coming in, we would not have enough savings built up for me to take off more than a couple weeks. American parental leave laws (or rather the lack thereof!) are a fucking joke!

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I always feel so sad reading other people’s maternity posts! I’m a pre school teacher in the UK, I’m currently off this week paid with it being half term, and then my maternity leave starts next week (I’m scheduled for a c section on Wednesday) I’m also taking a year off, 9 months of it will be paid and the last 3 unpaid. It’s so sad that it isn’t the same everywhere else! I honestly couldn’t imagine going back to work after a week weeks xx

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I took 3.5 before my due date and am planning to take 18-20 after depending on how I deliver. Only 6-8 are paid by state disability and a private policy I have. We are very lucky that we can do this financially this time around. I took less with my son.

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I also have 12 weeks unpaid (in Texas). What is your plan for childcare?
Daycares won’t allow a baby under 6 weeks old.
Can you play it by ear? Take as many weeks as you need?

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😞 this literally makes me so sad for all the American mommas. In Canada we get to choose whether we want to take 1 year or 18 months. You have to have a certain number of hours working in a 52 week period in order to get it but still! I’ve been off on sick leave for 7 weeks (dr ordered) and baby is due in 3 weeks, I will remain on sick until baby arrives and then switch to mat leave.

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I have 12 weeks FMLA, I will have 6-8 weeks of that payed at 60% because I pay for short term disability. I'll take the full 12 weeks, my vacation time resets in June so maybe I can get an extra week or 2 with baby. With my son I had 12 weeks unpaid and for me 12 weeks is not even close to enough time off with baby.

How long are you taking off?

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