Comments on: I think “Policy & Procedures” is code for “Might as Well be Written in German”

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:34:45 +0000

HA!! good luck getting anything in writing – *still fuming* I went in to talk to my HR after I had heard my baby’s heartbeat and it took till I was days away from my due date to resolve the translation barrier(s). I knew I wouldn’t be earning leave nor would I get any type of pay except for the sick/vacation leave that I had accumulated. The part that was up for grabs was whether or not they would continue to pay for my benefits. I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty important to me to know if I have to pay the 6k+ for the deliver of my baby or not. As it turns out I was still covered, but I would have liked to not have to argue about it. *stepping away from her soapbox* – *still fuming*

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:57:13 +0000

I got so incredibly tired of hearing from my/my husband’s Canadian friends “why arent you on maternity leave”… “what do you mean you dont get a year of paid maternity leave?”. And not only do we not get paid leave, everything is SO confusing. I was also confused by the 9 versus 7 weeks for a C-section. And we had to send the forms back to our doctor 3 times before they were filled out properly. Who has time for that when you’re dealing with a new baby and on heavy narcotics to recover from a c-section?

By: May

May — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:53:44 +0000

Every time I think about this, it makes me mad! Hello! EVERYONE is born. It’s common enough. Can’t we figure out a better system? Support the poor people who’ve just shoved a baby out their netherlands, or had them surgically removed? (Either way, it sucks, and a little support would be fabulous…) But don’t get me started…

By: Jezer

Jezer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:23:42 +0000

I remember that whole maternity leave/FMLA giving me a big ol’ knot in the tummy for several weeks. But I was fortunate. Having worked for the same school district for over 12 years, I had 60-some-odd days saved up, so my whole 10-week maternity leave was paid. Plus I had disability. So, we came out at least even. What sucks is that that is the exception to the rule.

By: Christar

Christar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:23:57 +0000

I’m so glad I won’t have to worry about having kids while working at my temporary crummy job. Nope, I will be graduated and working my REAL career by the time I get knocked up. My current job sucks, and they suck with maternity leave, or ANY leave for that matter.

By: Erika

Erika — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:54:50 +0000

I would like to rant a little more, again, on how I get no paid maternity leave, I can only use my personal and sick leave that I have earned. So that gives me a hot 2 weeks, and the rest is unpaid anyway – so I don’t earn leave, I don’t get paid, AND I don’t earn time in service for promotion potential. THANKS A LOT FMLA! I think we are supposed to be grateful. It’s hard.

By: janet

janet — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:15:06 +0000

And even if you’re not a new mom, or a mom at all (like me!) you can try to change this by telling your elected officials that paid family leave is IMPORTANT. That you DEMAND it. And then voting for candidates who are actually out there supporting it actively (cough cough not very many “family values” republicans cough cough).- partisan rant is now over-

By: AmyBow

AmyBow — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:57:13 +0000

Coincidentally I wrote about this same topic in my blog today! Unfortunately all pregnant women have to waste time and energy worrying about this sort of thing – sad isn’t it? Many other countries (even less developed nations) recognize the importance of maternity and paternity leave and the U.S. is still in the dark ages…sigh…

By: In which my child solicits help from the interweb | hola, isabel

In which my child solicits help from the interweb | hola, isabel — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:22:13 +0000

[...] since it’s Wednesday, you might want to check out my latest post over at SeattleMomBlogs, in which I talk about my friends behind their backs and maternity [...]

By: Carly

Carly — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:27:59 +0000

I wonder about this when I get pregnant. My employee handbook says I get 6 weeks off for vaginal birth and 8 week for c-section… all at 50% pay. Which I know is better than nothing… but man only 6-8 weeks? Not enough time. Must make husband earn more money so I can stay at home.