if you work in a school...

Hi ladies..

I am having a scheduled c-section on Sept. 5. School starts up again Sept. 2. As of right now, i wasnt planning on going back for the beginning of school. I am only going to take the 8 weeks.. Do those 8 weeks begin when the baby is born or when i choose not to return to work? So, do they start on the 2nd or the 5th?

I will be contacting HR, but i wanted other opinions as well.

thanks...

if you work in a school...

You will be disabled for 8 weeks following your c-section. Fula is 12 weeks so even of you take the 2nd-4th, you are fine for a job security standpoint.

Re: if you work in a school...

It depends on your contract. Are you a teacher in LI or in the city?

Re: if you work in a school...

I work on LI. I know that if its longer than 8 weeks, I go off of payroll and can drop in seniority. Just don't know what would happen if I took off before the section.

Re: if you work in a school...

I believe the 8 weeks start when the baby is born. You should be able to use your sick time from the 2nd to the 5th and then the 8 weeks of maternity leave will begin.

if you work in a school...

It starts from when your Dr puts you on disability.

Re: if you work in a school...

We get 12 sick days for the year so even if we go back for a day, we get the 12 sick days for the year. If your district works that way, you may want to go back for the first day of school!

if you work in a school...

You need to look at your contract. Every contract is different

if you work in a school...

Do you work for theNYC DOE?

if you work in a school...

In my experience, my leave begins the day I do not show up for work- regardless of whether or not I had the baby. For example, this year I am having a c/s on 9/4. I have conference days in August. Kids start the 2nd. I will attend conference days so I get my sick days for the year but I'm unsure if I will go on 9/2. If that is the case, I begin depleting my sick days (which run concurrently with FMLA days) and FMLA kicks in and the clock is ticking- so to speak. So even though I haven't had the baby, I'm still using my days.

If I go out early, my FMLA runs out earlier. I too will be unpaid and losing seniority. It sucks. Good luck!

Hope that made sense!

Message edited 7/22/2014 4:53:03 PM.

if you work in a school...

Is Sept. 2 Superintendent's conference day? if so, check with your building rep or union pres. on what you should do. Sometimes, they'll advise you to "step in" to the building on day 1 (sup. conf.) and sign in for attendance to keep some level of seniority. As far as I know, FMLA and sick days count down together from the day the baby is born.

Re: if you work in a school...

Re: if you work in a school...

I'm NYC doe - I went to maternity workshop. They were veryyyy clear : Fmla starts the first day you are out, regardless of whether baby is born yet or not. Fmla is 12 weeks in a calendar year. So if you were out in May for a week, then you'd have 11 weeks left, because that's how it's calculated (just an example) - just am FYI.

Re: if you work in a school...

Message edited 7/23/2014 7:41:40 AM.

Re: if you work in a school...

thank you everyone for your advice. I work on LI and my biggest concern is losing seniority if i use more than the 8 weeks. I know im entitled to the 12 with FLMA, but when you dont get paid, you drop in seniority. I am a Guidance Counselor and I am neck and neck with the other girls on the list.

I wasnt sure if i can use just sick time before i give birth and then let the 8 weeks start...but it sounds like that isnt the case.

I am going to contact my union and HR to make sure this is accurate for my district.

I also get 15 days each Sept. My HR told me that i dont have to come up to get those days since ill be on leave. I am going to email them and get it in writing.

if you work in a school...

In my district the 6/8 weeks starts the day the baby is born. If you go out prior to baby and a doctor has written you a medical note stating why, it does not count toward your FMLA and you use your sick time.

Re: if you work in a school...

I had the same issue with seniority.. In my district leave started the day you missed work..
We actually have no maternity leave, leave falls under the FMLA.. so I was able to take as many days as I wanted but I had to take them from my sick bank. I only had 7 weeks worth of days, but if I took 1 extra day unpaid it would drop me on seniority..
Luckily for me 7 weeks was exactly what I needed to get into summer break..

if you work in a school...

I took two weeks off before with a Dr. note and that was sick time. Maternity leave began when dd was born

Re: if you work in a school...

Re: if you work in a school...

I just spoke with HR. They said that my leave will begin when the baby is born. If i dont come in before then, i will use my sick days (which works out great for me).

Also, another question (which i think i know the answer). When you are on maternity leave and its a holiday, do you still use one of your sick days? I think the answer is yes, but not sure.

Appreciate all your help!