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I'm not pregnant but we are TTC, and I just started a new job early last month. So I'll be interested to see other people's responses on how it worked out for them!

What I've read is that you need to be at the job for a year before FMLA kicks in. So while your employer may also offer paid maternity leave benefits, they technically aren't obligated to even hold your job for the 12 weeks if you haven't been there a year, let alone give you any compensation while you are gone. Just a consideration. And yes, it's time served until birth, or when you have to stop working.

I kinda of did. I had a different boss but worked at the same University. It was a disaster and a half but that's because my new boss was complete scum, which unfortunately I realized too late.

I started a new job about 5 weeks ago and we are trying so I fall into this category.

At my husband's company, it happens quite a bit. There have been a number of new hires who get pregnant soon after starting. Not uncommon for sure.

I've been at my job for 5 years now. I'm hanging there still in order to get maternity leave benefits when we get pregnant which means another 1.5 or so. It kind of inhibits looking elsewhere.

@chopsuey119: Gotcha That's kind of how I'm thinking about it as well (which is quite a departure from how I thought about things before we started TTC!).

Bumping...

(Sorry to dig up an old post @bluestriped bee: but it was perfectly relevant!)

I started a new job in the November and just a few days later my dad was diagnosed with cancer. My new boss was really great and I had a fair bit of time "working from home" when he knew I was just with my dad in hospital. We lost my dad in the September - and I had a month of bereavement leave. Then, in the November, I found out I was pregnant. I had only been back for a month!! I felt so, so guilty telling my boss but he was really happy for me!

@LovelyPlum: just what I was going to ask! Did I miss some big news? And who the heck is stalking you? Why?

@LindsayInNY: I just posted about this on another thread, but I got pregnant with the boys RIGHT before I started my current job, so I had to tell my boss of a few weeks I was pregnant. It actually worked out fine (let me know if you want more details from someone in our profession), but generally I would say it just depends on what the maternity benefits are and if you'll want/need to use FMLA. And I second the questions about if I missed something?!?!?

I'm job hunting now and I'm 11 weeks pregnant. I had an interview three weeks ago and one next week for two different jobs, and am still applying to others. I'm really really hoping that I can change jobs and they won't fire me for taking maternity leave - I know I'm unlikely to get paid leave. If I had really thought things through, I would have signed up for Aflak last December, so I would qualify for their maternity leave coverage.

My thinking is this: I'm a lawyer, interviewing for public interest jobs. If I get fired for being pregnant/taking maternity leave, that is going to reflect very poorly on whoever hires me and our legal community is small enough that word will get around. And technically they can't fire me for being pregnant. My plan is also to negotiate big time to carry my sick leave over with me, because I have 10 days right now of paid sick time that won't get paid out when I leave this job. That way I should get paid for at least 10 days of leave, and hopefully they will let me take 4 weeks unpaid and keep the job. (Any job I get will be a substantial enough pay increase that I can afford the unpaid leave.)

I wanted to change jobs first, work there for three months, and then get pregnant, but for that to happen, I needed to change last year, and I couldn't imagine staying at my job much longer so wanted to go ahead now to be able to use my sick time/maternity leave.

@lindsayinny: I did!! I just posted on your other thread. I would be happy to talk about it with you - I know you are having some identity stuff, so you can wall me and I can give you my email.

ETA: I'm in the finance field (client oriented).

I started a new job last April, we started TTC in May. I just hit my 1-year anniversary and my due date is in less than a week.

FMLA is not the same as paid maternity benefits - it's purely job protection and depends on a the number of total work hours you've put in. Many companies have maternity leave policies, or follow a short term disability policy. Tenure can impact both, so you will need to contact HR to see what specifically your company offers.

I just qualified for FMLA, but my short term disability coverage is the same (based on 0-2 years tenure).

@bluestriped bee: Hugs.

@LovelyPlum: @Happygal: Not really relevant. No new job, still not pregnant... Just something in the back of my mind right now.

@Mrs. Blue: See above, but walling you...

@bluestriped bee: I know Sorry to bump an old thread since I know it can bring up other thoughts/emotions... See above and I'll wall you too

I did it!

We were ttc when a great job opportunity arose, I took the job, but my baby fever couldn't quit, and after a month at the new job we got a bfp. I waited until I was 5 months pregnant (6 months at the job) to announce at work. I work for a small company, so not protected by Fmla, but my bosses have been flexible and accommodating. I also live in CA, where partially paid leave is 16-18 weeks, regardless of time at current employer.