Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I plan to only take 8 weeks. Not because I want too but because I have to go back to work ASAP

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

Me. I get no paid time off so I have to go back asap. The idea of leaving an 8 week old with a daycare already makes me weep

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I get 12 weeks - but only 6 are paid at 70%, the last 6 are unpaid. I am considering taking the 6 weeks paid, then 2 weeks vacation, then go back. It'll be really hard though I will also need to use daycare. If I had a family member to take care of the baby I would feel better...

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I'm planning on taking 6-8 weeks at the most. I work for a small company and they don't pay for leave so I have to use my vacation time.

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

When I had my first DD I took 8 weeks and if I hadn't had a c-section it would have been 6 weeks. It majorly sucked! But it is very common in many professions. It is something that I wish America would change! In many countries women have paid maternity leaves but it is not required here! I think that time home with your baby is so important!

I am a SAHM now, and my "job" is that I babysit a friend's daughter from 6:20am - 5pm, Monday - Friday. I will be taking off 2 weeks this time around, but the benefit is that I don't need to leave the house to watch her. She comes to me. And in many ways she is like one of the family anyway so hopefully it will work out!

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I dont get paid either but, I'll probab;y be out @3-4 weeks before baby comes and then noy going back til Sept when new school yr starts but, hope to never go back. It'll be a struggle but, worth it.

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I will probably take 10 weeks. I will only be paid 8 of them between disability and banked vaca so i figure I will go back to start banking more vaca ( I will get 15 days for the second half of the year).

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet, but it won't be more than 11 weeks absolute tops. It's all unpaid & I have to wipe out my sick & vaca time to take off...by April I'll only have a little over 7 weeks left to use.

Our fiscal year starts July 1st, so I'm hoping that they'll advance me some vaca time like they did back when ds was born. If the Board approves it I'll be able to tack another 3-4 weeks on there (I get 5 weeks a year, but don't want to wipe that all out too & then be left with nothing until 7/1/2013).

Message edited 12/30/2011 8:31:23 AM.

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I only get 6 weeks paid but that doesn't start until she's actually born and with DH's crappy job, i need to get back to work asap. Even though i'm not 100% on leaving my baby with someone it's gotta be done.

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

i'm going back a little before 12 week, but that's only because i plan on quitting..so am going to go back early..put in my notice and wrap things up...going to be hard after working there for almost 12 years!

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I am taking 10 weeks b/c that is the maternity leave policy at my company.

The first 6 wks are paid at 70% and the next 4 wks at 100%.

I can take vacation time to make up 12 wks under FMLA but I think I am going to use it to take two weeks off in Dec and a week off at Thanksgiving.

Re: Anyone not taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave?

I am petrified of telling my boss. I highly doubt i will be able to take the full 12 weeks due to the high demands of my job.. i am hoping to take 8.. but i think they may give me grief about even taking 6.. i dont know.