Maternity leave

If you could take extra time off (completely unpaid) would you and how long would you take off?

My job gives paid time off, and then the option to take additional unpaid time. With DS I only took the paid time off because I was relatively new at my job and was afraid to take too much time off, plus we really needed my income. We still need my income and will have to dip into savings for any time I take unpaid, but I am planning to take some unpaid time this time around. Just not sure how much. Sometimes I want to take as much as we can possibly swing financially, other times I dont think I need that much and its better to go back sooner. WDYD/WWYD?

Re: Maternity leave

Crashing but, i did take 6 weeks unpaid leave. it did hurt financially to not have my paycheck, but I felt like I need to be home at least for the first 12 weeks. My job actually gave me an option to take another 4 weeks unpaid if I wanted it but I needed to go back to work for a paycheck.

If you can swing it financially then go for it.

Re: Maternity leave

I took 6 months with DC#1 and 11 weeks with DC#2. I wish I had taken longer with #2 instead of so much time with #1.

Maternity leave

All of my leave is unpaid. I'm taking 6 weeks mainly because I'm just nervous of losing my job if I take longer (I'm the only full-time person at this company and only have 5 other part-timers, no coverage under any laws). Honestly, if it weren't for my student loans (which will be paid off when DS is 6 months old) I wouldn't be going back at all. Once they are all paid off, I might look for a job closer to home and part-time - I don't care if I take a step back from management, I'd rather be home raising my children.

Re: Maternity leave

I took an extra 4 weeks unpaid. My DD was in the NICU for 5.5 weeks, so I basically spent the entire first month of my maternity leave at the hospital with her. I put in a request for an extension and was granted an additional 30 days unpaid. It wasn't even a question...I needed to make up for the time I couldn't spend with her.

ETA: In total I was out for 16 weeks. I had vacation and personal time that covered 6 weeks for a pay check, then disability for 6 weeks. The last 4 were completely unpaid.

Message edited 9/11/2014 3:22:51 PM.

Re: Maternity leave

All of my leave was unpaid as my company doesn't offer any maternity leave and I had no banked sick or personal or vacation time as I started in April and went out in June.
So I took 6 weeks - all unpaid.
It was all we could afford.

Maternity leave

I think it depends on how much money you already have in savings, and how much you'd need to dip into it. If you had a financial emergency (ie: your DH lost his job, or your car or house needed massive repairs), would you still be ok without your salary and with the smaller savings?

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I may only take a month. I only get unpaid leave and they are hiring a temp to help cover my hours. I'm planning on dropping one of my offices and keeping the half day ones so DH can be with the baby during the day and I'll take her when he leaves for work at 2. We just purchased a new car so we will have reliable transportation for the trade off (Poor DH had to give up his manly pick up truck lol)

Re: Maternity leave

Under my union, you don't get paid maternity leave until you're on the job for 2 years. I was 4 months shy of that so I didn't have a paid maternity leave.

I used up all my annual, sick, and comp time which covered me for 6 weeks. Originally I was going to take 12 weeks and spend the last 6 weeks unpaid- but I am now back to work part time (3 days a week) for the remainder of my maternity leave. For me it was the best of both worlds because I get to gradually get used to getting back to work and getting paid while still having time with the baby. I'm thankful my job was open to the idea and was actually appreciative for me coming back earlier than I had originally anticipated on a 3-day basis.

Message edited 9/11/2014 4:43:16 PM.

Maternity leave

I get half pay for a certain period of time. I'm using some time as well so I hope to stay out for 4-5 months. I get up to a year protected leave (but it's unpaid) so if I could afford it that's what I would have done.

Message edited 9/11/2014 5:42:32 PM.

Re: Maternity leave

My job offers 12 weeks paid, however I have the option to take an additional 4 weeks unpaid without my job being in jeopardy. I am leaning towards taking them up on this. I may also go part time when I get back.

Maternity leave

I'm taking 5 months- I'm getting paid for 9 days... I thought a long time about it and I'm okay with not getting paid. It'll hurt, but I'm so happy to be able to do it!

Maternity leave

My entire leave is unpaid. I will get paid for any vacation I have saved. I have barely taken a day off this pregnancy. I should get paid for at least a month and then the rest will be unpaid. We are broke but will be using our savings to pay the mortgage while I am off. It's not a question. I need that time with my baby as i have no choice but to go back ft.
Eta I will be taking the 12 weeks.

Message edited 9/11/2014 6:37:52 PM.

Re: Maternity leave

Maternity leave

I would take off as long as I could afford.

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Re: Maternity leave

Message edited 9/11/2014 9:50:33 PM.

Re: Maternity leave

I'm allowed to take a year (either paid or unpaid depending on how much sick/vacation time someone has accrued). I have enough leave to get paid for 10 weeks if I want, but I don't want to burn through it all & have nothing for when I go back so I'll probably go off payroll for most or all of my leave. I will probably take 12 weeks like I did last time, or a little longer, possibly an extra month or so.

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My whole leave was unpaid. I took 15 weeks. Although we were able to financially swing it, our budget was a bit tighter than normal at that time.

Maternity leave

I'm allowed to take 6 weeks using sick time. After that I can take an additional 6 weeks unpaid. After that I have to go back to keep my medical benefits. So I'll be off for 12 weeks. Not getting paid for 6 weeks is gonna suck but I have already started saving up so I won't feel it as much. Personally if I could stay out longer even without pay and still get my medical benefits I would do it. Its gonna be so hard leaving my baby.

Maternity leave

I was granted 8 weeks paid and took an additional 4 weeks unpaid. It didn't kill us. I plan to do the same this time around. I'd rather take the unpaid time than use all my vacation/sick...

Re: Maternity leave

I did w DS and I am again, I have right of return for one year so I am taking that unpaid.

Re: Maternity leave

If I could I would do it in a heartbeat! I took 4 weeks unpaid; it was rough but we made it work. I was able to save $$ while I was home; just from being home LOL Not having to buy lunch/metrocard/gas; temptations to buy things while in the city at work etc. Only things we spent money on was bills; diapers; and groceries. I had everything for the baby already. If I had to take any longer than the 4 weeks; we'd probably have to touch savings and figure some better ways of saving. But if my husband was ok with it; and we could make it work I would. You don't get that time back. It goes by so fast.

Also; not sure how much time you're talking about but i would see is there any option to take some of that unpaid time later in the year? Like when LO is bigger? I loved being home 3 months; but once DS hit 6months he was doing SO much and I felt like I was missing out!! That's when it killed me the most to be back at work.

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I will get disability for 6 weeks and then nothing. I am taking about 14 weeks total. So from 6 weeks on is unpaid.

We started saving for this a year ago so we have the money saved up to cover my paychecks over the course of that time.