Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I work for a very large, worldwide organization and I recently found out that you only get 12 weeks paid leave (100% of your base) if you have been here for 5+ years. This is really ridiculous to me-- 5 years is a lifetime in my business.

And, in just checking my benefits package you only get the following for years of service:

1 year: "up to" 2 weeks
1 to 3 years:"up to" 6 weeks
3 to 5 years: "up to" 8 weeks
and so on...

Now, my first job was part of the same organization, so I am wondering if I can apply those 2 years of service to this-- if it works for stock options, why not for benefits. I will wait til we get a bit more serious to start talkign to HR, since we will need to plan accordingly.

Anyway-- the more I think about TTC, the more I pay attention to this stuff and American women really get the sh!t end of the stick when it comes to benefits, and making our lives easier when creating another one.

What does everyone else get?

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I will get 13 wks.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

My company gives you 6 weeks for natural birth, 8 weeks for Csection, but not at full pay. After the first 3 weeks, the pay is scaled to how long you have been there. After that, we get an additional 6 weeks unpaid.

Message edited 12/20/2006 11:13:40 PM.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I am one of the lucky ones...

I get 4 months fully paid...and you get $1K worth of diapers as a gift...

top executives are fighting to change it to 6 months!!!! so I hope they do by the time I am preggo.....

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I also work for a large company and their maternity policy is ok....not the best, not the worst....

They provide you with 100% pay for 8 weeks for a regular delivery or 10 weeks for a c-section, +1 week for what they title parental leave. In addition you can tack on any/all of your vacation time. As part of the Parental Leave you can take up to 12 months unpaid. Plus I have been told that they don't count the 1 or 2 weeks before your due date against you if you decide not to come in.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

My company gives 6 weeks no matter how long you are here-at full pay.

I am not so sure how much they follow this, as a co-worker came back only 2 weeks after having her daughter. They were calling her at least 20 times a day-even while she was still in the hospital. She figured it would be easier on her to just come back..I would have told them to F off.

Message edited 12/20/2006 4:37:59 PM.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

My company doesn't have a maternity policy....basically you get the standard NYS disability, which I believe with the Family Leave Act, maxes out at 12 weeks.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I have 6 weeks available for the amount of time I am here with 2 weeks paid.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

My company gives 90 days at full pay as a new parent benefit. This can be taken by mother or father, whoever is the primary care giver can take it.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

My company gives 3 months- with NO pay. All pay must comefrom sick bank and vacation time. After 3 months, you have the option to stay out an additional 4 months, but you lose your health benefits.

Can you tell my company is obviously run by men....?

ETA: and in the state of MD, childbirth is not considered a disability- so no pay for me from there either.......

Message edited 12/20/2006 5:19:23 PM.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I'm self employed and as owner of the business I get no maternity pay.

I now have health insurance under my husband's plan. I posted today about their switch to a plan that has terrible maternity coverage and does not include my ob/gyn.

Life is just grand over here.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I am lucky in this regard. They just changed mine from 12 weeks at full pay (base salary) to 16 weeks full pay with an additional 8 week "transition period" if you choose. you can basically go back and be considered full time if you work over 24hrs in a week but pay is pro-rated. You get this as long as you've been there a year.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

8 weeks paid, I can take up to 4 more unpaid.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

12 weeks with no pay. It's under the family medical leave act. I can't believe there's no pay.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

i really dont know what my companys policy is, but i will get NYS disability and Aflac for 3 months.
and we have the FMLA at my job too..so yeah, i guess just a total of 12 weeks/3 months.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Thats insane! (as you know) I live in the UK and we get a pretty good deal (Just to make you jealous) We get (Depending on the company...this is what I got) 90% of your regular salary for 6 weeks, Statuatory Maternity Pay (SMP) for another 20 weeks, thats around $200 a week, and once you hit six months off your job has to hold a position for you for up to a year. You also get a stipend from the government until your child is 18 years old, thats £17 a week, which is like $30 a week. I have been off work for 13 months now, returning after New Year...its been a fantastic experience and I have loved it!

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

I'm in Australia and I love the maternity benefits at the university where I work. 6 months maternity leave at full pay, up to a year on 1/2 pay. You can also negotiate to have another year off unpaid, and your job will be there for you when you return. There's a wonderful day care centre on campus, one of the best in the state, which is really convenient for breastfeeding mums.

Message edited 12/21/2006 7:40:39 AM.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Hey Randi Since you are a rehire at your company, I would speak to HR and see what your service date is. This is the date they use for 401k vesting, etc. FMLA runs for 12 weeks concurrently with whatever paid leave they give you. What you described seems standard, the agency I used to work for was pretty much the same. But with mat leave, you are entitled to 6 weeks for a v-delivery and 8 weeks for a C. How much you get paid depends on each company's leave policy. Where I am now you get ZIP!!!

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Message edited 12/21/2006 9:02:34 AM.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

3 months full pay after a full year of service.

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

Posted by MrsTC

Hey Randi Since you are a rehire at your company, I would speak to HR and see what your service date is. This is the date they use for 401k vesting, etc. FMLA runs for 12 weeks concurrently with whatever paid leave they give you. What you described seems standard, the agency I used to work for was pretty much the same. But with mat leave, you are entitled to 6 weeks for a v-delivery and 8 weeks for a C. How much you get paid depends on each company's leave policy. Where I am now you get ZIP!!!

Re: Out of Curiosity-- What's Your Company's Maternity Policy/Benefits?

When I changed companies back in June, this was one of my top priorities. Though nothing like abroad, my co has a pretty good policy - 100% pay for first 4 weeks, 2/3 pay for up to 22 weeks afterwards. I believe you have to show medical proof you need anything beyond the standard 12 weeks, which hopefully I wouldn't need but it's there and I'd get paid 66.7% of my salary for it. All medical benefits remain and you pay whatever the employee contribution is listed at during disability.

Upon returning to work, you can work out with your manager up to 2 days a week to work at home (assuming your job lends itself to this, of course). I've been doing everything in my power to ensure that I can do my job at home so when the time comes, that cannot be used as an excuse. Also, we have 2 lactation rooms in my building and backup dependent care for up to 2 weeks at a very very low fee (both in-home and at a separate site).

If anyone is considering changing jobs prior to giving birth, I highly recommend looking at the companies featured on Working Mothers Magazine Top 100 Companies to Work For. I am proud to say my company is featured on this list