FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I just found out I am pregnant and am due at the end of August. I understand I will have to use my personal/sick days for the first 6 weeks and plan to apply for the FMLA for additional time.

I'm wondering if there is anyone who DOESN'T take this additional time? If so, how did you manage? And if not, I'm so confused as to why only 6 weeks are allowed.

I'm not sure how my husband and I can really afford for me to take this much time off from work, but I feel like 6 weeks is absurdly fast to return to work and leave a newborn in the hands of someone else.

I plan on attending the UFT workshop but I still am unclear on my health benefits and payments.

I've worked in the NYCDOE for 7 years - at the same school - and I find it so hard to believe that a) I have to use my personal days and b) I'm only allowed to use 6 weeks.

It seems crazy! You'd never guess that this rule exists in an institution designed to help children.

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I had my son on the last day of school. I had off for the summer with him and then took 10 weeks (unpaid) at the beginning of the following year. With this pregnancy, I am due May 21st. Assuming I go on time, I could take my 6 weeks paid, have off for the summer and then return for September. This would give me a little over 3 months at home. This is one way that someone could avoid taking FMLA. In your situation, if you want more than 6 weeks then you have to use FMLA. It totally sucks.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I'm in the same boat. Due end of July plan on going back after thanksgiving. Totally sucks so start saving now lol

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I did not take any extra time. I had a c section and took only my 8 weeks.

Eta - not a teacher. Had 8 weeks paid. But could not afford additional time unpaid and wanted to go back to work.

Message edited 12/31/2012 4:27:53 PM.

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Does your job offer any paid maternity leave? If so you shouldn't have to use all your vacation/personal

FMLA allows for 12 weeks off, but it's unpaid, and runs concurrently with short-term disability (maternity) and vacation/personal time.


For example - I'm taking 12 weeks off
My job pays 8 weeks maternity for a c-section
The remaining 4 weeks will be unpaid, or I could use my vacation/personal time, but still can not be out longer than 12 weeks

If you've worked there for more than a year and work more than a certain amount of hours a year (i think 1000)you should qualify for FMLA as that is a Law

I would contact your employers human resource department to be sure - some do require you use your sick/vac time etc before they will pay disability.

Message edited 12/31/2012 4:37:37 PM.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

FMLA is just a law that will hold your job and health insurance for 12 weeks per year. I am a teacher on LI but from my understanding NYC only allows you to use 6 weeks of your sick days during that time (8 for c-sec) and the remaining 6 weeks are unpaid. This is what I was told from friends who teach in the city.

eta: fmla is up to 12 weeks. you do not have to take all 12 weeks

Message edited 12/31/2012 5:10:27 PM.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I didn't take it with DS. I was due June 11th and had him May 25th. I didn't need to because I used my 6 weeks that lead to the end of the school year. This time around I am due May 9th so it will be 7.5 weeks until the end of the school year and I am having a c-section so again I just make it without having to take it.

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

be happy that you even get FMLA. i had 6w maternity leave (not paid and then I got 8w ONLY cause i had a cs and STD covered it) and then nothing cause my company was too small to qualify for FMLA. so as absurd as it seems - at least you have that option. whats absurd is that i had a preemie 7w early and my employer expected me to go back basically a week after my DD's due date. she was in the NICU and barely home for 3 weeks when I was supposed to go back. i ended up losing my job altogether because i wasn't medically cleared to go back. so seriously, be thankful that work somewhere that even has FMLA. and then be appalled at how far behind the US is in maternity leave. it is seriously despicable...

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I went back to work 20 hrs a week 10 days after baby was born... I went fully back to work working around 60 hours a week when DD was six weeks. It was very hard, but my job is very specialized and nobody can cover for me... Luckily I had family to help other wise I never could have. Good luck!!

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I didn't take it, we couldn't afford unpaid leave

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Message edited 12/31/2012 10:35:22 PM.

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Sorry triple post

Message edited 12/31/2012 10:35:02 PM.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I didnt take it. I got 8 weeks disability for c/s and used 2 weeks vaca. I had 8 days unpaid.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I had twins and only took 8 weeks...I had to use all of my saved sick days...babies were born 9/27 and I returned the first week of September with 0 days left in my bank. I scrimped and saved before hand because I knew that I would not be getting paid.

And FYI, your summer checks are adjusted as well! I was never told that and it was a shock to me when I wasn't paid my full amount for the summer.

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

You may not have to use too many sick days since in august you are not working so you only have to use sick days for the remainder of the 6 weeks from when school starts again. But you will find that out at the workshop.


I took the 12 week and then decided to take e year off

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I work for the DOE as well. Here is something to keep in mind that I wasn't aware of when I took more than 6 weeks besides not getting paid after 6 weeks they will deduct money from your summer checks if you go beyond your six weeks. So I took of 11 weeks with DD and in the summer they took like almost 200 out of each paycheck.

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I had a unique situation since I was on bedrest for 5 weeks and then had a Csection...I technically did not take fmla but I went back for 2 weeks after the 8 weeks before the summer...your first 6 or 8 weeks depending on your delivery comes out of your sick days, which is disgusting, but I would highly recommend going to the workshop and taking lots of notes...it was very informative.l

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

I'm due in July and it pisses me off that I can't take days from my bank when I get back to avoid fmla

Re: FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

FMLA - Does anyone NOT take it?

This may be a dumb question but can you collect unemployment when you don't get paid for leave???