https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:15:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864653 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 08:25:46 +0000 Becky 2864653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: That’s what I’m afraid of. PFL is still so new in NY that there just isn’t a lot out there about it unfortunately. I’d probably be best off waiting until 2021 to have #3 so I’d at least get 12 weeks partially paid and job protected leave, and maybe go out 2-3 days before my due date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864650 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 08:11:11 +0000 gotkimchi 2864650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: in my state they can make you run everything concurrently, i talked to a lawyer to verify becuase I was annoyed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864636 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 06:55:20 +0000 Becky 2864636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won’t get fired if I take more time, but what I’m trying to figure out is if your employer can force you to take Extended Medical Leave and the NY Paid Family Leave and FMLA concurrently. I know they can make you run EML and FMLA concurrently and PFL and FMLA concurrently, but what’s not clear is if your employer can force you to run everything concurrently. Where I work my Executive Director won’t approve people just using sick/vacation/PTO to extend leave, and that’s within the employers right to figure out even though it’s not great for employer morale. Also within their right is forcing you to use all your PTO while on leave, meaning you won’t have any time left when you need to go to doctors appointments or the like after you return to work. I work for a non-profit governmental organization (state). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864607 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:52:33 +0000 Littlebit7 2864607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have short term disability and family leave insurance/bonding time in N.J. but I think it’s similar to ny. I didn’t even qualify for fmla with my first kidbut I got the N.J. family leave/bonding and short term disability; I was allowed to take 4 weeks pre birth due to my doc signing me out, 6 weeks post for a vaginal delivery and then 6 weeks of bonding time, all paid by the state. Note that it is 2 weeks more than FMLA covers but your employer can make you use two weeks of vacation. I think NY follows N.J. somewhat</p> <p>Will they fire you if you take more time? Is there a chance? Because your job wouldn’t be protected if you are out longer. If you think they won’t, try to negotiate a longer leave by using vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864606 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 21:49:57 +0000 Pollywog 2864606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you federal? Our FMLA doesn't have to run concurrently. So I planned to go on leave at 39 weeks (vacation), then I could take 6 weeks of sick and then all my vacation and then 240 hours of FMLA unpaid. We don't have parental leave, but delaying FMLA was a huge help for me </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864580 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:53:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2864580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did exactly what you describe- stop work two weeks before my due date, but I still got 12 weeks fmla after. It was company policy though (I think they mostly waned people to be able to wrap up what they were working on and not go into labor in the office). I had to use a week of vacation to kickstart fmla though, and I don’t think I was paid the entire 12 weeks after. It’s a blur, but I do remember fmla stared the day I gave birth. But I was in MA and I think it was a specific company policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864573 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:29:02 +0000 PurplePumps 2864573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not NY here, but as I understand it leave is leave... be it EML, STD, paid parental leave... it all falls under leave that runs concurrent with FMLA. FMLA just gives you 12 weeks off leave time and guarantees your job... so if you take EML, you're on leave status and the clock starts ticking. The only way to get more than 12 weeks off I believe is that you have to take vacation time before going out on leave or after "coming back" from leave so that your employee status is actual active during that time.</p> <p>Is your employer really that strict with requiring you to come back after 12 weeks? They aren't really going to fire you if you want to take 13, are they? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864568 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:16:27 +0000 Becky 2864568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: I think my employer would require I use FMLA if I were to take a mental health break unfortunately ☹️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864566 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:05:51 +0000 Becky 2864566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: DD 1 was 5 days late, and I had about 7 working days off before that. DD 2 was on her due date and I went out 2 days prior so had 1 day off. I was thinking I’d have at least a week. Our head HR isn’t in our office so I could probably ask—I should probably bite the bullet. I’m honestly POed we don’t have PFL because it’s not hard to add onto our disability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864563 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 18:55:08 +0000 LCTBQE 2864563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just gave birth in New York and I *think* the answer is no, but not totally positive. Is it too scary to just ask HR directly? The other thing is even if you planned for that, the baby could easily be early and nullify everything ☺️ (dunno if both your other kids were born at 42w or something of course). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864548 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:45:42 +0000 pachamama 2864548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: hmmm my situation is a little unique because I had a doctor's note and I'm a teacher (and therefore have a union) but what I did is take mental health leave for a while before giving birth (38 weeks now so still using my sick days ). It didn't affect my FMLA at all- that will start on the day I give birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ny-momslegal-bees-paid-family-leave-fmla-amp-eml#post-2864517 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:27:45 +0000 Becky 2864517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're considering baby #3 over the next 1.5-3 years. Long question short: Is there a way to go out on leave before your due date (say a week) and then still get 12 weeks after the baby is born? </p> <p>We don't have PFL yet (gov't organization) but I'm moderately optimistic we will by then. We have Extended Medical Leave instead of Short Term Disability. Current EML policy is that EML and FMLA must run concurrently. EML pays part of your salary until your doctor releases you (so 6 weeks post-partum for vaginal delivery), and you must supplement that partial pay with your vacation and sick time. You must exhaust your vacation and sick time during any leave you take past that 6 weeks too. My coworkers who have gone out on leave since I've been here have only been allowed to take 12 weeks total (to equal what is job protected by FMLA). One went into labor at work, the other went into labor before her due date, so both were able to take 12 weeks postpartum.</p> <p>I'm wondering if you can use EML (say 3 weeks: 1 week before baby is born, 2 after baby is born, also running FMLA concurrently), and then follow it with 10 weeks PFL. This would total 13 weeks of leave, which pushes you one over what's protected by FMLA. (I know PFL increases to 12 weeks in 2021). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768417 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 19:02:28 +0000 wheres_c 2768417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in IT and the only female on my team. My corporate credit card got turned off while I was gone (which was annoying) but everything else initially stayed active. Certain accounts that I did not log in to within the 4 months got deactivated so I had to call to deactivate on my return. I had email, VPN the whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768341 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:03:41 +0000 codeitall 2768341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realize people are worried about me notifying HR about looking for other employment, but due to several other members of my team leaving (I think we're up to 7 now) I'm the last one on my team and the only one left with a lot of institutional knowledge. So they have told me that they're willing to do a lot to keep me. I've given them a list of things that would help, this policy being one of them.</p> <p>It helps that there are at least 10 job openings in my area I could apply for each week with my skillset.</p> <p>I think this policy just comes down to the work environment still being male-oriented. If we had real maternity leaves instead of short-term disability claims that could be voided by working, we'd all have more flexibility in how we approached our time off. Some people want to stay in touch and others don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768130 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:22:36 +0000 MissKriss19 2768130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Director gave me the option of keeping access to email or not. He didn't want to bother me while I was off but also wanted to keep me in the loop if I wanted it. I kept access but no one 'cc's me or anything. My out of office states that I'm on mat leave and directs the sender to my secretary who can redirect appropriately. I'm in Canada and will be on mat leave for 18 months. I'm not too worried about keeping up with what's going on as so much will change before I go back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768089 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:25:49 +0000 Mrs D 2768089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With both my leaves I had very open and honest discussions with my bosses about expectations (on both sides) during maternity leave.</p> <p>Boss for DD1 was a man and definitely shy'ed away from cc'ing me too much. Generally it was a one way street - me checking in with him. He was VERY concerned with not disturbing me. It was kind of him - but I felt out of the loop.</p> <p>Boss for DD2 was a working mom of two - she completely got it. She kept me on every email I would have otherwise been on. She expected zero work from me - but would text occasionally (maybe 5 times during my whole leave) for urgent issues where I was the 'specialist' and could help quickest. She let me take two extra weeks as a thank you for all the help over leave. Way more than she needed to do but it was nice since it was summer.</p> <p>Our company does have a firm - no work on leave policy, but not many people go so far as to shut down email accounts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768058 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:30:53 +0000 ValentineMommy 2768058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That happened with my second maternity leave, but for different reasons. I work for the gov, and since I hadn't logged on in awhile, they deactivate it for safety/privacy concerns. It was a pain in the butt having to get them all turned back on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768051 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 06:07:37 +0000 Elle_watson 2768051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me that didn't happen, telling them that you are looking for another job isn't a very good idea, never tell this to your company until unless you have a job in hand and this particular period am sure you wouldn't want to lose your job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762663 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:42:01 +0000 shabang 2762663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Same here. I worked for a large consulting firm, and this was protocol. It isn't where I work now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762656 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:27:53 +0000 alphagam84 2762656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you are not supposed to work at all while out on leave, by law. I can't remember what they did with my email but I wouldn't want thousands of emails to filter through when returning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762646 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:58:35 +0000 tinyperson 2762646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In Canada, one year mat leave, and for both, we had the option of keeping our laptop home with us or handing it in. I kept mine and stayed on top of clearing out emails and on top of office news while gone. It helped me feel not so out of the loop coming back. I didn't do any actual work though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762638 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:30:23 +0000 runnerd 2762638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>pre-kids I worked for a big bank/corporation, and yes this was the policy for people on any official leave claim - complete access shutdown. </p> <p>Not the case for me at my current small company, but sounds in line with my previous employer policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762631 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:11:39 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2762631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing changed while I was on leave. But my boss was very supportive and encouraged me not to work. I simply checked email via my phone and deleted all of the newsletters and spam so that I didn't have to wade through it all when I came back. (I imagine I would have tried to be more engaged if the company was going through a major reorg though!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762630 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:05:46 +0000 snowjewelz 2762630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. First baby I def did not check in as much; but second baby I was checking and responding to emails almost daily. And since I went early unexpectedly, I was on email at the hospital to try to tie up loose ends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762588 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 04:48:56 +0000 psw27 2762588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only log in to do my timesheet. We don't have remote email access (weird, I know) and I have only checked in out of curiosity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762570 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:42:32 +0000 Pollywog 2762570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hahaha. I was expected to work on leave or at least check in. At a minimum I had to connect to the network a few times a month to certify my time sheet (federal employee, so no maternity leave or short term disability. Just sick, annual, and unpaid) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762564 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:51:48 +0000 Finfan 2762564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had access to anything I wanted but didn't touch any of it<br /> For 12 weeks. Took a full work day when I got back to answer or delete all the accrued emails. Totally worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762545 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:09:28 +0000 pachamama 2762545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Public school US teacher here. I'm actually very surprised I had access to my email because yes they can invalidate your short-term disability if you work. But I had access to everything in worked on a ton of stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762543 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:01:53 +0000 Reese 2762543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @Banana330: same! I hand over my iPhone and have no access to my email or our internal system </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762540 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:54:46 +0000 Banana330 2762540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Canadian too ours gets completely shut down.. like once I go on mat leave, I don't exist. emails just bounce back etc. It's a bit annoying as you have to reconnect with everyone when you get back. </p>