Hellobee Boards Topic: If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:32:57 +0000 Purpledaisy on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1438875 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 20:46:10 +0000 Purpledaisy 1438875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope! I got 10 weeks off but I would have liked to have more. I was only suppose to get 8 weeks but fibbed a little on my return date and my manager never double checked... It's not like They were paying me for those two extra weeks! I don't regret it :wink: Mae on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437848 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:42:26 +0000 Mae 1437848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I could take quite a while off (unpaid) if I wanted to as long as I was willing to be sort of on-call for questions and emergency situations (I work from home anyways so I'd be able to do that). cheert16 on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437844 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:41:37 +0000 cheert16 1437844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yup- I took off 4 months- then went back. (although I was doing a bit of work at home mostly the whole time- so I was allowed to take a bit more time off) BabyMats on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437834 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:40:10 +0000 BabyMats 1437834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have the 12 week fmla then I have up to 20 days summer leave and 20 days winter leave and 4 wks of vacation and sick. 40 of those days were non paid and I had my insurance the whole time. They paid for it lamariniere on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437267 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:03:25 +0000 lamariniere 1437267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When I had DS, I had 16 weeks paid and could take up to one year unpaid if I wanted to. I extended to 5 months after the mat leave period, but decided to quit before it was time to go back. katsupgirl on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437241 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:58:31 +0000 katsupgirl 1437241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My job is pretty lax about leave. It's not unusual for people to be out for 8 months (most of it unpaid depending on how much vacation time you have). Technically my union says we can take 4 years. Not paid. Mrs. Pen on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1437098 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:32:11 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1437098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm not sure. I'd like to think so. I know that we can accrue as much PTO as we would like based on how much we work, so most pregnant women work as much OT as the company allows in order to take a longer leave. I'm not sure how long you can be out and have your job secured though. Most of the ladies I know are only generally out for the standard 6 weeks. Sparkler on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436983 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:11:54 +0000 Sparkler 1436983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I work in a very family friendly environment. With my first I took 6 months off and had full pay with benefits (I had worked at my company for 5+ years and all our vacation, sick and comp time rolls over). With my second, I took 6 months off at 75% pay with full benefits and then returned part time with benefits. I feel very fortunate! Modern Daisy on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436978 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:11:14 +0000 Modern Daisy 1436978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My manager would have to approve it as unpaid personal leave. So far the other moms who have extended past the 12 weeks were not turned down. It is so unaffordable for our family though since i make a lot of $ and we get our health insurance through my employer, i would have to pay 100% of the premium if i went more than 4 weeks unpaid. LuLu Mom on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436942 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:06:26 +0000 LuLu Mom 1436942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had FMLA and that is all we are allowed to take (unpaid besides what we have for PTO which is max 3 weeks + 1 free week they give as a gift.) I think the only except would be medical issues with child. I was supposed to go back on Christmas Eve and my boss said I could wait until back the day after Christmas (ha so generous I know) Mrs. High Heels on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436876 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:54:29 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1436876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, my manager was incredibly supportive during my maternity leave. lemondrop on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436841 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:45:53 +0000 lemondrop 1436841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, I took 16 weeks off and used my PTO for the last month. I didn't return to the same job by choice though (I could have though) because I only returned part-time. Smurfette on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436835 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:43:47 +0000 Smurfette 1436835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have no idea cause I used all my vacation and still had to take 3 weeks paid. Most people here take 6 weeks. lawbee11 on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436828 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:42:12 +0000 lawbee11 1436828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes! It wasn't all paid, but I took 6 months mat leave. I also got to keep my benefits, I just had to reimburse my employer for the monthly premiums. septca on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436819 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:40:48 +0000 septca 1436819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes - in my office, taking more than 12 weeks is pretty normal if you can afford it (most people have to take a lot of unpaid leave to be out that long because we don't have a STD policy). It's between you and your supervisor to negotiate a leave amount. I asked for 16, thinking we could negotiate to 14, but it was approved with no problems (I ended up taking about 18 weeks because DD was early and I had already set a date for my return). It ended up being a little long, honestly. I was not ready to go back at 12 weeks, but I was definitely ready by 16. I think next time I will plan to go back after 15 or 16 weeks. anandam on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436815 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:39:50 +0000 anandam 1436815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, HR technically allows 6mos. All is unpaid, and all benefits (like health insurance) are discontinued after the 12 weeks of FMLA. My department is putting loads of pressure on me to come back in 6-12wks but I say f*ck 'em. Our plan is to find a way to afford 6mos (and alternate health insurance, etc). MrsH on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436737 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:20:43 +0000 MrsH 1436737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My job wasn't protected by FMLA. I don't think it would go over well and would never ask - it would put too much burden on my coworkers. mfa_lady on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436635 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:01:14 +0000 mfa_lady 1436635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm not pregnant yet, but have been thinking a lot about this lately. We are protected by FMLA, and our 12-week benefits/pay are great. I work for a nonprofit, and honestly, depending on the time of year I have the baby, they'll probably have to hire someone to take over some of my job responsibilities when I'm out. So, in that case, I think they'd be flexible with more than 12 weeks, but anything over that would definitely be unpaid. Corduroy on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436576 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:53:21 +0000 Corduroy 1436576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm in California so I had 18 weeks after delivery. Normally I think my company would have allowed me longer leave without pay if I requested it. However, my boss was on leave the same time so there was pressure to get me back ASAP. Half of my department was out. HR kept telling me I wasn't eligible for the leave I took but they couldn't seem to prove me wrong. KT326 on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436560 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:50:37 +0000 KT326 1436560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was able to take 16 weeks off. I'm hoping to either take the same or slightly more with the next one. looch on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436551 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:49:41 +0000 looch 1436551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, but it would be unpaid. HabesBabe on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436540 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:47:43 +0000 HabesBabe 1436540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ They would have before, but we just had a huge re-org and I don't think my new management would allow it. Luckily, I live in CA so I have FMLA and CFL so I can take more than 12 weeks. bhbee on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436533 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:45:12 +0000 bhbee 1436533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was able to take 4 months (mostly unpaid). it was a small employer that didn't technically have to follow FMLA but they were very flexible. it was also the off-season for my job by then, i.e. not as busy. I think that made a difference. snowjewelz on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436529 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:44:48 +0000 snowjewelz 1436529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I work for a small private company, so probably (if I have a good reason). But I probably will continue to be unpaid of have to use my days. avivoca on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436522 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:42:37 +0000 avivoca 1436522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. My job does not qualify for FMLA and Iw as very lucky to get 12 weeks. Adira on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436519 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:41:11 +0000 Adira 1436519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've HEARD that my company allows it (I know a girl that took 15 weeks off), but I didn't know how you went about getting more time off and I was told that taking more time would result in my job NOT being protected under FMLA, so I was too nervous to even try it! fussygal on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436496 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:36:28 +0000 fussygal 1436496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, my job is giving me 16 weeks but I don't qualify for FMLA so it's a combo of short term disability, vacation paid at FT and a few weeks at PT pay. lavender on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436493 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:35:41 +0000 lavender 1436493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, but maternity leave is all unpaid so I really can't afford to take more than 12 weeks off. PurplePeony on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436485 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:34:22 +0000 PurplePeony 1436485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Maybe a week or two, but not much more. autumnlove on "If you wanted more than 12 weeks maternity leave, would your workplace allow it?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-more-than-12-weeks-maternity-leave-would-your-workplace-allow-it#post-1436481 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:33:12 +0000 autumnlove 1436481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My job wasn't protected by FMLA but I had 12 weeks for baby 1 and 17 for baby 2.