That is my life story these days. I think being pregnant has actually made me (if this is even possible) more bored at work. I have a good job, but the challenge has been gone for a while. Every morning I get up and think 'where are the good old days when women only worried about cleaning the house and making a nice dinner'. Do you know what I mean?
LisaW
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
I know what you mean Michele!
And, I'm not even pg yet!
I worry about how I will tolerate working while pg (I'm on my feet all day), plus the cooking and cleaning!! Yikes!!
Kathi
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
I remember it being really hard to concentrate on work in my 1st tri. I was so distracted w/ baby thoughts!! It got easier after week 13 (although the commute STILL SUKKS!!)
Now that I'm at 34w, I'm literally counting the days until June 12th (that would be 22)!!!!!!!!!!! I hope I don't go out of my mind for the 3 weeks I'm home before my EDD!
JennRenee
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Kathi I can't believe you're SO CLOSE!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!
Kathi
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You're not the only one who can't wait!!
sha11209
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
I'm not pg either but I know what you mean!! My last day here is 6/6 after being here for 6 years(wow I just realized that's three 6's!! Yikes!) Anyway, I am bored to pieces! I thought I'd be sad, and I probably will be soon, but right now, I'm soooooo bored!!! I feel your pain!!
anna
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
Kathi-how come youre taking off from work so early? I ask only because you might want to try to stretch it out and then have more time home with the baby. or are you not going back to work?
Claud2001
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
Anna You're so cute. But, actually it's a common misconception that if a woman takes time off work prior to delivering, that she won't have as much time left AFTER the baby is born. THis is simply NOT the case, although healthplans and employers DO NOT like the pregnant Mom to KNOW this info (I learned this from my OB when I was PG). This will vary slightly from state to state, but essentially, this is the way it was explained to me:
Some (not all) health insurance plans include long and short term disability benefits. Every corporation chooses different options, based upon what they can afford to pay for their employees. THese benefits are separate from a woman's maternity leave benefits. If a woman's OB says that it is medically necessary for her to stop working 4 weeks prior to her EDD (due to the normal discomforts of a nine month pregnancy, OR for a possible complication), all the doctor has to do is write a note to the employer's short term disability insurance carrier, and the PG woman gets time off 4 weeks prior to EDD - most of the time with 80-100% of her paycheck (I was lucky to have gotten 100% of my pay, but I think it depends on your employer's health coverage).
Then, once the baby is born, you still get the normal 6 weeks for natural delivery and 8 weeks for c-section...that is considered the official 'maternity' leave.
THEN, you can add on personal vacation time that you have accrued through your employer (which should be at FULL pay, since it's YOUR earned vacation time).
And LASTLY, you have the option to add another 12 weeks of unpaid leave through the FMLA.
So, the moral of my story is.....if Kathi's OB is recommending her LOA to start 4 wks prior to EDD, than she's not loosing ANY time - she's just getting a bonus of an extra 4 weeks of rest!
kathi...you are too funny...but it must be exciting...and frustrating...waiting to meet your peanut!!!
shamma
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
Claud, thanks for sharing, if I need the rest prior to my due date when my time comes. My OBgyn will gladly write a note. I love the relationship that we have.
NIHA
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My employer just told me that for the first week that I am out, I have to use my sick time and then short term disability will kick in (whether or not I deliver, it will start).
At this point, it doesn't really matter to me, since I have 3 weeks paid time saved, and I'm not stopping work until 1-2 weeks before my EDD. I honestly would go out of my mind if I stayed home all day long right now, but my situation is different, since our apt is full of boxes. If I had things to do, like using my nesting instincts, I'd love to be home!!
Claud, about the FMLA, I was told that it is a TOTAL of 12 weeks, not 12 more weeks on top of the disability. So, the FMLA will begin when my disability begins, and I'll get about 6 weeks of paid disability and 6 weeks of the rest of FMLA unpaid. This may just be my employer??
michele31
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
Claud gave birth in CA where some of the maternity laws seems to favor the mother much more than here in NY. So there might be some difference.
I was told I get 12 weeks total of FMLA, not in addition to the 6 or 8 weeks. But again, CA might allow more time because they are more friendly to new moms than here.
My short term insurance policy gives me 60% of my paycheck PLUS state disability pay. But one of my old companies had a 100% clause. So it all depends. Some employeers do not have that insurance at all. You should check prior to getting pg because some places let you take out a private policy and it is worth it if you are a higher-earner.
CindyLee
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
I'm also stopping work one month prior to my delivery date. I'd like to take the time and spend it with my daughter. It's important to have the time to yourself, as well as your spouse or your other children...
Whether or not I was coming back to work, I think I would take the time and I would not care about what time I would lose in pay...that's not important.
And, yes, Kathi: the commute is getting to me!!!
Kaycee0921
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
FMLA entitles you to a TOTAL of 12 weeks (unpaid) leave for the birth or adoption of a child. It also entitles you to leave for your own medical condition or that of a spouse, child, parent. But it's only 12 weeks per year (rolling, not calender). So even if you are on bed rest for your own pregnancy, that time is deducted from the total. Plus, your employer can count any paid time off (vacation, sick leave, etc.) as part of those 12 weeks. It guarantees a job (not necessarily your job - but a similar one at the same comp) be held for you for 12 weeks. NYS Short Term Disability is a monetary benefit -- not a time off benefit. Plus they must continue your health benefits as if you were working. But if you don't return, they can collect the employer portion of the premiums! So if you plan to leave your job, go back for 2 weeks notice.
FMLA is a federal law that applies to all states, most employers, and most employees. Each company has it's own discretion on whether to allow employees more time (this law includes fathers too!) off. The key is that an employer cannot treat pregnancy any differently than any other medical illness or injury. Because of this law companies did away with separate maternity leave policies in order to not discriminate against non pregnancy related medical conditions. Some had better policies than FMLA, some worse or none.
Edited to say this is the minimum requirement, a state law that is more beneficial (to employee) could override. Also, you must be employed for a minimum of 12 months prior and have 1250 hours within the 12 months to be eligible.
Kathi
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
FMLA doesn't apply to me. I'm self-employed. I won't get any salary/disability for the entire time I'm on ML. I'm actually not returning to work in Manhattan, however, I *have* to work and plan to start again in October (ish).
I chose June 12th as my last 'official' day (I had originally planned to leave June 26th) since DH is on vacation the following week- it's the closest week he could get to our EDD. Soooo, I want to spend some time alone w/ him!! We have lots to do!!
I plan to go into work the 18th, just to tie up any loose ends... then I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
JennRenee
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I'm due on a Tuesday, and I'm working till the Friday before. My district gives 2 years unpaid leave per child, and will only pay you for accumulated sick days. I am ONLY taking the sick days I have, and not a day more, unless it becomes a medical risk for me to work.
michele31
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Jenn- you get short term NYS disability and I am shocked they don't have a better-pay program during your short term leave. So you mean, that you are taking really no time before the baby, but 2 years after?
JennRenee
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Re: working, bored and wishing I was home
I'm only taking the days I have accumulated in sick and personal time. I'll be going back to work at the end of February. Plans may change if Patrick gets promoted before then, but for now, that's our plan. I wish there was a better pay plan, but I think the school system feels we get enough time off.
