I remember when I first started in the working world, pregnant women would have their babies, and then be out of the office for the next 3 months on average. I always assumed that was the company's policy. Have a baby. . . 3 months off to spend time with the baby.
I WAS WRONG!
This past week, I've been looking into maternity benefits at my company. I'm lucky in that adoption time off is handled similarily to maternity leave. It is basically the same policy. Let's just say the information I found was extremely disturbing. Here are some highlights.
1. The majority of companies in the U.S. do not offer maternity leave. Instead, they offer something that is called short-term disability. Most people can have up to 26 weeks a year of disability. However, these corporations have said that giving birth to a baby only requires 6 weeks of healing, so you will only get 6 weeks of disability.
2. The first week of disability is actually unpaid. . . so technically, a woman only received 5 weeks of disability.
3. Depending on the company you work for, only a percentage of your salary will be paid during disability. Some companies only pay 50%, and if you're lucky, your company will pay 100%.
4. If you're not ready to go back to work after 6 weeks, you can then take 6 weeks of FMLA. FMLA is the Family Medical Leave Act. Not all companies offer this. But if yours does, it allows you to take time off of work and guarantees you a job when you return. However, it is COMPLETELY unpaid.
5. Some companies don't offer anything AT ALL. No short-term disability. No FMLA. If you want time off after having a baby. . . take it unpaid or use up your vacation time. (If you have any)
Finding out this information was upsetting and disappointing to say the least. Why does a country that claims to be the best at so many things, do so little for work/family balance. My friends in Norway that have babies, get a year off. There are 3rd world countries in the world that have better maternity benefits than the U.S. does. The U.S. is in the very bottom of the pack on the benefits offered.
In my opinion, this is completely pathetic, and it must change. I'm going to bringing a child into my life, and I want this child to have a decent adjustment period. I don't want to bring this baby boy home, and just when he's getting used to T and I, ship him off to daycare. Staying home is not an option for me right now though. I wish it was, but we are a family that requires two incomes for the time being.
Something needs to change. We need to have laws in this country that allow women time to spend home with their new baby. . . whether it is via birth or adoption.
Sometimes it is so obvious to me that our country is run by men.
20 comments:
Yah, we have no maternity leave just given to us- we have to used sick and/or annual leave for any time we want off. We can use FMLA, but of course no one wants to NOT be paid! Luckily, IF has provided me with lots of time to save up sick leave! ;-)
that's frustrating. and stupid. can T take leave after you take leave so at least your little one will have slightly longer before daycare??? is that a possibility?
I think you have a right to FMLA by law. I thought that was something a company absolutely could not deny you without getting in serious trouble with the government. I mean, they post it on break room walls so that you know your rights. I know it covers adoption as well as birth, it also covers an illness in your family if you need to take care of someone, as well as for yourself. That being said, your employer is NOT required to pay you, but they do have to keep your job open for you. FMLA is a right, not a priveledge.
But I hear ya, if you can't go without pay for three months, it really hurts to put the little one in daycare. I also think it is backwards our country comes behind third world countries for family leave benefits. I can't think about it because it would make me too angry.
It' so terrible, isn't it? I don't get any type of leave - not maternity, not short-term disability (although I did sign up for an independent policy... but that would only cover childbirth and not adoption). So, I will have whatever unused vacation/sick time I have, which can never be more than 6 weeks since I can only carry a week over at the end of any year. It really ticks me off. I'll be taking unpaid time, for sure, but who knows how long I can do that?
(And FMLA does not apply to my organization (we're too small), so if I want to take unpaid I will have to negotiate with my employer and see if they'll allow it. They may well not, since we're so small and they sort of need someone in my position.)
Thanks for all of your comments.
:-D
Taher could take vacation, and that's what we may do to stagger the time we can be home.
Chelle, My understanding about FMLA is that a company has to be a certain size before they offer it. My company has 35,000+ employees, so we definitely have it available, it's just the whole not getting paid thing that is hard. My income is kind of necessary. :-(
This is a topic I have LONG been annoyed with here in the US.
I work for a company with only 15 employees - so we are FMLA exampt. They don't have to offer anything, not even disability, not even your job back if you do take some leave and return after a few months. Makes it tough on families.
It boggles me too. I was writing on another forum just yesterday about this topic, since I am starting discussion with my bosses about my leave for this 2nd child.
I'll likely write a very long, very emotional, very frustrated blog post about this topic once my bosses and I sit down to hatch out the details of the "leave" I will be allowed to take. UGH!
It is very, very frustrating! My company did not provide any maternity benefits for adoption - period. No leave, no time off - NOTHING!!!
AMEN! I've always said that. Other countries get up to a YEAR of maternity leave. But here? Nada. So sad.
I think that a company has to have over 50 employees to be required to have FMLA. I work for the government. I am allowed to use sick and vacation leave for the adoption. FMLA will be tacked onto that, but will be unpaid. I know that I'm fortunate to be able to have a part of my maternity leave paid by sick and vacation leave. It really sucks that this country does not have better maternity benefits for EVERYONE! It's a disgrace.
When I had my first baby my company didn't even offer short term disability. So I had to take 6 weeks off with no pay. Niiiiice.
It is awful. It is frustrating because you want as much time as possible with the long awaited child, but work will not let you.
I agree that it is frustrating that other countries give mothers a year, but here in the US, we get nothing.
I hear ya! I took off almost 14 weeks and my partner took off 12 weeks. Since we overlapped some of that together but not all of it... that gave us over 5 months home with our son..but, it wasn't all paid! And I couldn't agree with you more that something should be done to help us out. I would love to see a change in this area.
I am so upset by this topic as well. I am working on writing a letter to my company because the benefits are different for pregnancy and adoption. But you are right that it is shameful that our country doesn't make it easier for families. SHAMEFUL!
it is so very frustrating for sure. We just get to use sick/personal time and after that its all unpaid unless you have short term. I think its definitely something that should be looked into
Incredible! In the UK you have a right to 12 months off, with usually 6 months on full pay!
My job not only had no maternity leave (we were given only what FMLA gives AND if you had sick/vacation time, that counted towards FMLA, so let's say you had 3 total weeks of sick/vaca time, then you were only eligible for 9 FMLA weeks, for 12 total). It really sucks. I knew women who came back to work 2 weeks after their babies were born because that was the only paid time they had available.
By contrast, my husband's company offers 12 paid weeks plus 12 unpaid FMLA weeks to moms; dads are entitled to 1 paid week plus 12 unpaid FMLA weeks.
I feel so lucky that I was able to resign; I know most women are not able to. I wish that werent so and more people were able to raise their children or, at the very least, be present for their formative years.
I totally agree! The district I work allows 6 weeks of maternity leave (8 if you have a c-section) which is UNPAID!! Same with FMLA you can use your vacation time or "sick days" if not they doc you. So not only do NOT get paid but the doc you days that you miss in your contract! It's awful and has stressed me out ever since I started teaching!! Thankfully I can accrue my sick days so I've been saving as many as I can for the time I need it when I have a baby! It's truly sad!!
Your last line totally cracked me up! The insufficiency of the maternity leave is one thing that I guess I should be grateful for since I can't seem to find a job!
I am new to your blog. I think the maternity leave policy in the US stinks but I do not believe in a government mandated leave either. Luckily I have worked for companies with great policies. When my DS was born I was able to take off 5 months paid. That was 1month more than most people but since he was premature, they let me take an extra month. At my current company, they offer 4 months paid for maternity leave. I got 8 weeks off paid for my adoption leave and took 4 weeks vacation for a total of 12 weeks. Most companies do not offer great benefits for adoption.
BTW, I'd love to hear what country you are adopting from. Assuming our finances are in order next year, we'll be starting an international adoption in Rwanda.
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