tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post3636918372296692339..comments2023-11-29T00:50:04.094-08:00Comments on Mine to Command: Left alone to figure out my leavejAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-39506148209938844832015-05-05T14:02:59.589-07:002015-05-05T14:02:59.589-07:00This makes me so glad I work freelance and don'...This makes me so glad I work freelance and don't have to deal with HR departments like this. Miserable.<br />I thought CA started paying pregnancy disability a couple weeks before your due date. Although, I guess that doesn't matter if your company only gives you limited time off and you want to save it all for post birth. Paid Family Leave was so great to have on top of disability, but it's still not enough. I didn't realize so few states have it! Maternity leave in the US sucks and needs a serious overhaul. JenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056681492831041470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-51119478709755855392015-04-26T18:41:35.015-07:002015-04-26T18:41:35.015-07:00I finally understand why The Office's Michael ...I finally understand why The Office's Michael Scott hated HRjAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-75330779764677664362015-04-26T17:42:02.922-07:002015-04-26T17:42:02.922-07:00Maternity leave in the US is a joke. You know what...Maternity leave in the US is a joke. You know what else is a joke? HR departments. I can't believe the run around you got for attempting to get answers. I'm just shaking my head at all this. Risahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01134469272401945848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-65179227792687938662015-04-23T11:35:16.011-07:002015-04-23T11:35:16.011-07:00This brought back so many memories of trying to so...This brought back so many memories of trying to sort out my own leave. I read this text too often as well. And, while for this country you're right and we Californians are relatively lucky, coming from a country where currently both partners can split 14 months of paid leave between them [60% with a cap, much like here], well, 6-8 weeks is appalling, even if paid. My employer also opted out of the California Family Leave program, nicely enough. I do have to say that everyone from HR I was in contact with about maternity leave was great (in contrast to my usual experience with them). Despite all my complaints about the leave not being long enough, when my boss told me last week that she "ran out of funding and can't extend my contract", and went on to suggest that it might be nice for me to spend more time with SB, that was clearly not appropriate. Conceptionally Challengedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600863125990400886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-18553300248598290372015-04-22T14:42:44.965-07:002015-04-22T14:42:44.965-07:00What a hassle trying to find someone that could he...What a hassle trying to find someone that could help you! I'm sorry it was so difficult and you didn't even get your questions answered. It shouldn't be so hard! Our society has a long way to go in figuring out what is best for families with newborns. Whether it's 8 weeks or 12, it's simply not long enough when you have a newborn. Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507432917936364757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-85607021600525240092015-04-22T09:44:58.234-07:002015-04-22T09:44:58.234-07:00I can't believe how inept your HR "depart...I can't believe how inept your HR "department" is. Actually, I can believe it. On the bright side (for me), it makes my dysfunctional HR department seem practically competent. I have my benefits appointment on Friday--6 weeks paid leave (topped off short term disability) then I can use leave. Luckily I have enough sick and vacation to get me through 15 weeks and I just negotiated working from home after FMLA runs out. To echo the others--US leave is crap; I am so envious of our Canadian friends who actually get to spend time with their little ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-65093652013223372222015-04-22T09:15:46.696-07:002015-04-22T09:15:46.696-07:00Leave in the USA is terrible. Have you seen this ...Leave in the USA is terrible. Have you seen this infographic (http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2013/02/17/opinion/17coontz2-map.html)? We are the only developed country that does not guarantee women paid leave. It is absolutely insane. I took 3 days off before my scheduled c-section and was glad I had a few days to make final preparations and to just relax, but I was even happier to have more time with B when she was here. There is no way around it - it sucks that we don't get more time and it isn't paid. You will want every second you can have with the little one before you go back...A Few Good Eggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654170259337486983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-76750948034830585372015-04-22T07:15:01.134-07:002015-04-22T07:15:01.134-07:00And I thought my HR department was inept. I shoul...And I thought my HR department was inept. I should however point out that maybe for some people, "baby brain" SHOULD get you off work. I mean, I don't want a surgeon with baby brain leaving some tools inside me. I got DUMB, for reals.Aramishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275274008426941898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-10777773325334873142015-04-21T13:06:20.588-07:002015-04-21T13:06:20.588-07:00I worked up until my c-section date as well and it...I worked up until my c-section date as well and it wasn't that big of a deal (of course, I didn't have any complications). I contemplated going out even a week earlier but then that would have meant a week less with Izzy and I was already only going to get 3 months.<br /><br />Maternity leave in the US is shit. Hopefully at some point companies will figure out that employees are more productive and happier if they get to spend more time with their newborns.Non Sequitur Chicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07268138421234170972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-17019033244453837502015-04-21T09:59:16.454-07:002015-04-21T09:59:16.454-07:00I don't get the FMLA thing either..I'm tha...I don't get the FMLA thing either..I'm thankful my job gives us the option of taking 12 weeks and getting paid by using our sick time....which by the way I can't use if I am sick for one day and need to take off. In that case I have to use a vacation day...crazy! Amiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738442092989090297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-49359370979161307812015-04-21T08:05:26.298-07:002015-04-21T08:05:26.298-07:00It's funny as I can remember when FMLA was sig...It's funny as I can remember when FMLA was signed into law and it was seen as such an important achievement. Now it seems so inadequate; 'thanks for letting me take a measly three months of unpaid time while holding my job until I return!'jAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-73574585243292618242015-04-21T07:41:18.594-07:002015-04-21T07:41:18.594-07:00My company makes it easy: you get FMLA. Any other...My company makes it easy: you get FMLA. Any other agreement you make with your boss or HR is not required to be upheld by law, so you can make another agreement, but you can still be fired for taking that time if we feel like it after you come back. But hey, you get 12 weeks, so what are you complaining about? We even let you use up all your sick time and vacation if you want to get any money while you're gone. Otherwise, we'll send you a bill for your benefits. Congratulations on your new unisex tax deduction.<br />Oh, and if you and your spouse both work here [as is my situation], it's even easier! You have to share the time.<br />I would say don't get me started on leave policies, but it looks like you already have. :.) Yours doesn't sound too bad, but I know there are companies out there that have better. But hell, there's practically an entire planet's worth of countries out there that have better, so we're all basically in the same boat. You might even develop a little bit more empathy for your co-worker's decision while you're on leave, even if you still don't totally approve. But ultimately, I think it's very weird that we've set up pregnancy and child rearing as some frivolous luxury decision that doesn't deserve to be accommodated, as though it's a sign of entitlement to ask for the resources necessary to properly parent a child. I don't know who it is that people expect to pay the taxes that maintain their roads and insurance payments that make their nursing homes run when they're no longer fit to work.emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10445546756521231621noreply@blogger.com