https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:44:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1496069 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:09:52 +0000 MoonMoon 1496069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: I think that's why it's smart for the government to handle the pay (with payroll/tax contributions like unemployment insurance) so people could be covered whether their employer is big or small. Also, it took me a long time before both the baby and I really got the hang of nursing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1496049 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 13:46:25 +0000 MrsRcCar 1496049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love a year paid off! However I work for an extremely small family business. I know that it would pretty impossible to have a full year off paid. I would love at least 6 months. 6 to 8 weeks just isn't enough! E and I are still figuring out nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495991 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:52:27 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1495991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think 6 months would be perfect. I don't know if I could remember how to do my job if I left it much longer than that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495948 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:52:43 +0000 Beebug 1495948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsScottish: I didn't know that about teacher top up, most teachers try for summer babes to end up with 14m off that I know, but I had heard of that factor!</p> <p>@MoonMoon: my DH is a teacher, and depending on baby timing would influence if he took time. Then we really looked into it with #1, and he wouldn't get top up (parental leave vs. maternity leave) so no pay vs. me off nearly fully paid. With #2 I will be off May 2014 to August 2015, DH will naturally be off 4m or so (broken up) in that time, and I get 93% top up for my time off (except the last month is one month unpaid I'm electing to take) so it really doesn't make sense for DH to take time unpaid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495856 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:34:33 +0000 Adira 1495856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>12 weeks was way too short, but I think a year would be too long! I think it would be so much harder to return to work after so much time off. Plus I think it was good to put Xander in daycare. I would ideally take 6 months off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495847 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:29:46 +0000 MrsScottish 1495847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: yeah it is weird. I understand the summer as we are only technically employed sept- June. We still get paid over the summer but that is because they break up our pay into 24 payments instead of 20. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495807 Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:12:54 +0000 MoonMoon 1495807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsScottish: that is confusing! So during holidays, you don't get the top up, but it still counts against your 18 weeks? I'm a teacher, and my baby came in June-I would have been screwed, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495213 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:29:12 +0000 Grace 1495213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm taking 10.5 months. And Hubs is taking the last 6 weeks. The big bonus to this is that it makes breastfeeding so much more feasible. I don't know how the pumping ladies do it for a full year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495106 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:47:43 +0000 birdofafeather 1495106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i voted just right, but i would probably take 8-9 months and split the rest with DH! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495073 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:28:38 +0000 MrsScottish 1495073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in Canada and currently figuring this out as we are due in November. EI ( employment insurance) from the government gives us up to 55% of our salary for the year. I am a teacher and my division tops us up to 80% for the first 18 weeks of maternity leave. BUT none of that can fall on holidays.( summer, Christmas, spring break) So if I have a baby at the end of June then I do not get my top up for the 9 weeks of summer vacation. The remaining time of the 18 weeks would resume on Sept. Because we are due beginning of November I will only loose 2 weeks over Xmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1495042 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:12:06 +0000 loveisstrange 1495042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't take the full year. 4-6 months would be more than enough for me. DH could fully take the rest with my blessing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1494726 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:19:38 +0000 indi 1494726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd take at least 6 months, and DH and I would figure out how to split the last 6. So much happens in the 1st year, like PPs said, and breast feeding would be much easier. 6 weeks is not nearly enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1494666 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:56:31 +0000 artsyfartsy 1494666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES! I know I want to go back to work and I'm actually looking forward to it, but I would love to have the first year with my son. So many important things go on and breastfeeding to a year would be an easier feat without so much pumping at work.</p> <p>I would probably take the whole year myself. DH doesn't like not working and that way I could nurse him all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1494652 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:50:11 +0000 MoonMoon 1494652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: wow, that's so amazing from my u.s. perspective! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1494594 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:33:16 +0000 anandam 1494594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, this option would be amazing.<br /> Even just a mandatory 6 weeks would be major!</p> <p>If we had a year paid, we'd use it. Maybe have both of us home together the first 3 months, then I'd stay out through 9mos while DH went back to work. As it is in reality, we think DH is will take 2 unpaid weeks plus two weeks WAH and I'll take 6mos unpaid. And then we'll have a lot of bills to catch up on, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave/page/2#post-1494579 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:27:10 +0000 lamariniere 1494579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is a reality in Austria, I'm not sure it is mandatory, but eveeyone I know takes it. If you were previously employed, you can get up to 80% of your former salary for one year (up to a certain threshold). If you were not, there are several funds available that give a decent amount of money. The leave can be split between the parents, but I think the woman has to take at least the first few months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494567 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:21:25 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1494567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd ask DH if he would want any of it but I already know with his type of work, he wouldn't want to leave the office anymore than a few days.<br /> I'd take it all! I wanna say, I think I wouldn't be a SAHM if The US has 1 year mat leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494462 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:26:03 +0000 Purpledaisy 1494462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I definitely would. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494436 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:16:58 +0000 LatteLove 1494436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think 6-8 months would be the longest I would take a maternity to leave, but I would LOVE to have that. A year away from my job is a LOT of time to lose track on the industry and company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494429 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:12:50 +0000 LuLu Mom 1494429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full paid sure, but I would be happy with ANY pay and 6 months would be great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494407 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:03:43 +0000 heartonastring 1494407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm taking 13 months (the last month will be fully paid vacation time) and it's perfect for me. I'm going back in six weeks and feel I'll be ready. Having this time has made our BFing relationship successful.</p> <p>@char54: Agree 100%! DH's best friend and his wife are splitting the year - she'll take the first six months and he'll take he second. I told DH to tell his friend that he's the lucky one because he's getting the best part!</p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: @MoonMoon: It's 55% to a maximum of $501/week, less taxes (I think I get something like $958 biweekly). My employer also topped up to 95% for the first 17 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494398 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:58:06 +0000 BSB 1494398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think 6 months of paid leave would be good. With the option to decline less paid leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494396 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:57:28 +0000 Charm54 1494396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get a year and the first 6 months I enjoyed the time but kind of wanted to go back. </p> <p>Now that she's older I am having SO much fun and loving these last 6 months. I'm glad I took the full year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494359 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:40:01 +0000 bpcmarj 1494359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, it enabled me to EBF like I had planned and when she went to daycare at 15 months, we just weaned during the day and I didn't have to pump. That was an excellent advantage! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494354 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:38:10 +0000 bpcmarj 1494354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stayed home for 15 months with DD and it was amazing. Ideally, I will take a one year leave if I have another and it will just be unpaid. For me, it was a great amount of time to be home and I was ready to get back to work when that time was up. If it were paid and my job was assured to be given back to me it would be incredible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494349 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:36:39 +0000 preggomeggo82 1494349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would want to be able to take it in 3-month increments. Like be able to evaluate quarterly if I'm ready to go back or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494345 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:35:33 +0000 meganmp 1494345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think anything paid would have been nice- all of mine was unpaid, and I used sick days to supplement. I would have loved to take the remainder of the school year off, but at the same time, I got a bit insane being at home. Give and take, I suppose... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494327 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:33:03 +0000 BKCaribBaby 1494327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the option of 1 year would be great. For me, ~8 months would have been ideal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494325 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:32:54 +0000 lawbee11 1494325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Agreed. I went back full-time when M was 6 1/2 months and it was much easier than I expected. I would've been a mess at 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-the-us-mandated-1-year-paid-maternitypaternity-leave#post-1494314 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:31:03 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1494314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it was fully paid, I'd take it! That's how much I hate pumping at work. Once LO is a year I'd feel so much more comfortable about putting them in daycare too. </p>