Working ladies? How much time off post-birth?

LostGirl · Post by **LostGirl** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:06 pm

I am trying to decide how much time off I need and of course how much we can afford for me to take unpaid after the baby gets here.

My company gives me 3 months paid leave, and I can take up to 3 months more. I have one month of vacation time annually so I guess that means 8 weeks of coasting with no salary...

Regardless of the cost, how much time would you ideally take if you were choosing between 4 months and 6 months?

lostgirl

2ndtimer · Post by **2ndtimer** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:00 pm

Hi, I only get 3 months off paid or unpaid time. I would take the 6 months in a heart beat if I could and keep my job. You'll never get that time with the baby back.
2ndtimer

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:46 pm

I agree, take as much as you can! I need to figure out what my employer does and what the law says in California...

squeezan · Post by **squeezan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:22 pm

Wow, this sounds like one area where the uk is better than the us. I work for the NHS and will get 2 months full pay, 4 months half-pay + statutory mat pay then 3 months stat pay. I can then take a further 3 months unpaid leave taking it to a total of 1 year.
As a single mum there's no way I'll be taking the unpaid bit but I hope to take upto 9 months even if it means using some savings for a bit.
I also still get my annual leave entitlement for the months I'm on mat leave so will take some before baby arrives an maybe add some onto the end. As you say, you'll never get that time back and after everything I've gone through to get pregnant I want to spend as much time as possible with my baby.
Su

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:31 am

I am moving to the UK!!!
Maternity leave here in the US stinks - even lots of third world countries have better maternity leaves than here...

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:40 am

riogirl71 wrote:I am moving to the UK!!!
Maternity leave here in the US stinks - even lots of third world countries have better maternity leaves than here...

Ditto.

Babyb · Post by **Babyb** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:08 am

No kidding -- US SUCKS. When I had my first baby, my company paid me NOTHING. Literally nothing. I wasn't entitled to state disability either because they calculate your disability rate based on your monthly rate in the prior 18 mos. Unfortunately, I had only been at the company for about 7 months before I delivered. Prior to that, I was self employed. So, if you count back 18 mos from delivery, I was allotted "O" for disability.

All of this really sucked because my DD was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I was out of work for about 12 mos caring for her -- all with no pay and simultaneously bearing the burden of literally millions in medical care (none of which even held a candle to the cost of ultimately losing my daughter at 13 wks).

I really wonder where our values are in this country sometimes.

LostGirl · Post by **LostGirl** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:32 pm

Please! If you really want to be treated right don't move to the UK, move to Iceland. The mother gets 6 months at 85 percent salary, and the dad gets 3 months, and then they get another three months to "share" between them - still at that pay! Few babies in Iceland in a stranger's care before the age of 1, and then after that, there are cost-effective state-trained babysitters at a couples' disposal.

Anyway, I am quite happy about the six months because it's better than most American women get, and I'm lucky to be able to afford to stay away for 1/2 year. That and well, the insurance I have through my job mostly paid for our two cycles of IVF. Otherwise, we'd never have the money to be able to go without pay for awhile.

As with everything, sometimes lucky, sometimes unlucky...

Lostgirl

JustinesBaby · Post by **JustinesBaby** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:03 pm

Mandy J · Post by **Mandy J** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:05 pm

I am only taking 2 months off, post birth. As the main earner and self employed, (DH's wages doesn't even cover our rent!) we can't afford for me to be offf any longer than that, so my DH is going to leave his job and become house husband. I know I am going to totally hate going back to work so soon, but luckily I am in a position that I can take the baby to work with me on some days.

Take as much as you can afford, the early years are important!

kholtan · Post by **kholtan** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:07 pm

My nephews mother met my brother at strip club where she worked, then got pg in 2 weeks, had a baby with my brother who by the way had just got out of jail and proceeded to stay at home for almost 2 years with her baby here in the US. All while living in a pretty nice town house and getting money for living and daycare that she never even used. All this courtesy of us tax paying residents!

Doesn't this tick you off? WE struggle to have children and want nothing but the best life has to offer and yet because we are hard working and trying to be a good roll model we aren't living for free and taking advantage of the system that some people truly need.

Fortunately, I am able to stay home with my twins but when I read how hard all you women are trying and how dedicated you are to these babies it just makes me mad that we don't do more here in the US. Good luck to every single one of you and I hope you get as much time with your babies as you can. It does go by so fast!

Babyb~ your post broke my heart. I am so sorry for your loss. Those 13 weeks are absolutley priceless I'm sure. She was lucky to have you by her side the entire time. Good luck to you and Dh.

Sorry about the rant ladies. I hope it all works out well for everyone!
Take care~
Kimberly

Working ladies? How much time off post-birth?

Working ladies? How much time off post-birth?

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