NYC teachers...FMLA

If anyone has info and can help...im so confused!!!
My goal was to have the baby on Sept 7th...take my 6 or 8 weeks maternity...and then go off payroll for 4 weeks. I heard about FMLA and you can take 12 weeks total and keep health insurance. My payroll secretary said that i can't use FMLA until i exhaust the days in my bank, but i will have around 20 days extra after my 6 or 8 weeks. This would mean i would have to come right back and not go off payroll w/ benefits. I have looked at a lot of info online. The FMLA info site makes it seem like i can do it, but the UFT sight does say that you must exhaust your CAR days. i wont be able to exhaust my days cause i will have extra. Does this mean i cant use FMLA and take the extra time? Please help :)
Thanks

Re: NYC teachers...FMLA

I answered you on the pregnancy board

Re: NYC teachers...FMLA

that doesn't seem fair that you HAVE to use your sick days first? what if you want to keep those? god knows you will need them with kids....

Re: NYC teachers...FMLA

FMLA allows an employer to require you to substitute paid leave for unpaid leave. The paid leave runs concurrently with FMLA. If you have enough sick days for 6 or 8 weeks, you will have to use them. You are considered disabled for 6 or 8 weeks so your leave for this period of time is due to a serious health condition.

You may have additional accrued sick days. However, since you are no longer disabled after 6 or 8 weeks, you're taking additional FMLA leave to care for your child. Under those circumstances (where a serious health condition no longet exists), you may not be required (or able) to substitute accrued sick leave for the remaining 4-6 weeks of your leave.

You don't have to return to work until you have exhausted your 12 weeks of FMLA leave. Hope this makes sense.