How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

I only get the standrad 6 weeks disability. I'm currently 17 weeks, my company is relatively small and I'm one of two in the NY office, the main office is in Cali...they take care of their employees but the past two girls that went on maternity leave didn't come back, and I'm not sure what I want to do as of yet...so I wanted to just ask for 6 more weeks off at the least....I also wanted to ask for work from home time when I come back, but I figured that was a subject to talk about while on maternity leave and getting ready to come back...any insight would be helpful!!!
TIA!!!!!!!

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

i think your best bet is to have your doctor write you off for the full 12.
while you are maternity leave, unfortunately you may have to "play up" your discomfort.
just really complain about your back etc.
doctors are pretty generous with writing you time off b.c it becomes a liability to them if you go back to work too soon.

if you take off 12 weeks, will they pay you for just 6 or will they work with you?

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

standard FMLA is 12 weeks. it sounds like your company will pay you for 6 weeks only right?

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

FMLA is 12 weeks (but your company is only covered by this is they have 50+ employees).

I am assuming you will get paid 6 weeks via disability. You can at that point use up your vacation time if you have any left and the remainder will be taken as unpaid leave.

Honestly, I think you should be up front with your company. If you don't plan on coming back then you don't need to say anything, but if you want more time off you should ask for it before you go out. Also, if you want to work from home after the baby is here i would also bring that up before you go out. I find that bosses are more apt to say yes to this then after you go out. My boss knew how long i was taking off and what i wanted when i came back before i left the office.

From my point of view, I think it comes off as kind of "shifty" to ask for things after you are out on leave. In kind of comes off as you are saying well I am out now and I want this and this now. And please don't flame, this is JMO.

Message edited 7/14/2008 12:33:21 PM.

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

If you have short term disability coverage & your doctors says you are still disabled after the first 6 weeks you should be able to still get paid from the disability insurance company. Short term disability goes up to 13 weeks. After 13 weeks it becomes long term disability.

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

Ok, to make it easier this is my maternity policy spelled out:
So essentially if I'm getting this correctly I get 6 weeks of paid disability and 6 weeks of nothing....
Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)

Purpose of leave: Leave is available to female Employees who are disabled by pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy as certified by a healthcare provider.

Who is eligible: All female Employees who are disabled by pregnancy or a condition related to it as certified by their healthcare provider.

Amount of leave: Pregnancy disability leave is available for the length of the Employee’s disability up to a maximum of four (4) months. In addition, a transfer to a less strenuous or hazardous position may be available pursuant to the Employee’s request if such a transfer is medically advisable by the Employee’s healthcare provider. Leave may be taken incrementally prior to delivery.



Required notice and documentation: Employees should give 30 days advance notice of the need for pregnancy disability leave, including the estimated time the leave will begin and end. When 30 days notice is not practicable, as much notice as possible should be given.



Prior to the start of the leave, the Company will require a statement from the Employee’s physician indicating an inability to perform the current job and the anticipated date of return. In the event the leave exceeds the anticipated date of return, it is the Employee’s responsibility to provide further verification from the attending physician that the Employee is unable to perform the job and the revised anticipated date of return.



Return to work: Employees who are granted leaves for pregnancy will be returned to their same or similar position in accordance with California law if they return at the end of their disability and within four (4) months of the start of their leave.



Effect on benefits: Depending on an Employee’s eligibility, medical insurance may be continued during the leave in accordance with the Plan Document, Cal-COBRA/COBRA, or provisions of federal/state law relating to unpaid medical leave. Benefit time off will not accrue during PDL. The Employee is required to use all PTO attributable to sick time at the start of the leave. The Employee may elect to use any remaining PTO during the leave.

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

Message edited 7/14/2008 1:18:02 PM.

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

Re: How and When do I ask for more time on maternity leave?

I was given 12 weeks and wasnt planning on coming back for another 4 and was going to ask for the extra 4 when it got closer to the end of the 12 weeks but then I had PPD and the Dr wrote a letter saying he thought I needed some more time so I didnt go back for 16 weeks...