Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

My original plan was to take 16 weeks (12 weeks maternity plus 4 weeks vacation/personal days). Now I think I'd like to take a few extra weeks off unpaid. Curious at what other working moms did.

Did you take just the paid time off or did you take additional unpaid time off?

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

No i didnt

I couldnt

I needed every penny to pay for daycare, formula, toys, clothes, diapers etc and still have money for us to buy essentials

what i did do was to take that last week i had off and put AJ in daycare so i could get used to the idea. I think it helped a lot. I got to know the daycare, came to visit midday...etc.

worked for me...

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Yes. With DD#1 I took off 4.5 months. I only got paid for 8 weeks.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I was able to take unpaid leave of up to 1 year, after my paid maternity leave

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I didn't. I was off for almost 4 weeks before I delivered DD then had 13 weeks paid leave. I went back to work when my maternity and vacation days were used up. Since #2 will be here so soon [in Dec.] I may take a few weeks unpaid since I won't have as many vacation days saved up this time around.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I was only paid disability for 6 weeks and took another 6 weeks unpaid.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I took 90 days off. 6 weeks were paid.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

No I couldn't they would only hold my job/benefits for 12 weeks.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

i took off about 11 months - 9 unpaid after using about 2 months of sick and vacation time that I had accumulated.

Loved every minute of it.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Yes with both. This time I am taking almost a year off.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I took my max time off... which was 12 week FMLA (8 paid) and 8 weeks Parental Leave (unpaid) for a total of 20 weeks off.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I got paid 8 weeks through disability and stayed out one extra week. I am the breadwinnder and we really couldn't afford me being out unpaid.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I had all unpaid leave-I do not live in NY. I took 4 weeks vacation(paid) and 3 weeks unpaid. 7 weeks off, had twins and c-setion Though I do work from home

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

My entire leave was unpaid. I was put on modified bedrest at 34 weeks, delivered at 38 weeks, then took 8 weeks off after my c-section.

I did not go back to the job I had when I was PG. (Same company, different job.) That was my decision when I got PG.

ETA: Are you sure your company will keep your job past the 12 week FMLA?

Message edited 5/23/2009 2:57:04 AM.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

No, we have a great maternity package in the UK and I had just over a year off, my employer was very happy to have me back when I was ready. I was paid for about six months, however now you get paid for 9 months.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Technically i'm allowed to take a year off unpaid. But financially i can only afford a month or two.
I have no paid maternity leave, just the time i have in vacation and sick time. So everything else is unpaid.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I'm taking additional unpaid time off. My job doesn't offer paid leave, but I can use my sick, annual and accrued sick/annual time. I'm doing that to get paid 2 months, and then I'm taking another 4 months unpaid. But, I do plan on working from home maybe 2 days a week at around month 4 to get back into the swing of things and to start earning a little money.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I took 2 extra weeks unpaid...I just wasnt ready to go back

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I did.... I was paid the 8 wks maternity leave, used another 4 wks. vacation time.. then another 6 wks unpaid, I just wan't ready to go back!!

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I can take up to 5 years unpaid leave (only good thing about the Dept. of Ed - too bad I can't afford it!). I was paid for 8 weeks and then took another 8 weeks unpaid.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I will be off a total of 10 months, 7 of which is unpaid. I actuallly have to pay them for the insurance!

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

I'm taking 6 months off. I had a ton of sick/vacation time so I've been paid in full for 4 months. Legally, my job only had to hold my job for 12 weeks but my boss and her boss agreed to hold my job for 6 months.

Re: Working Moms: Did you take any unpaid time off on top of your paid leave?

Since I am under the doctor's care still I have been paid for the entire 12 weeks (using my sick time) but I planned to take the remainder of the school year off - so I will not be paid.