https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 21:17:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1281017 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:43:44 +0000 avivoca 1281017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: That's amazing! I got three weeks paid leave, and that's only because I saved all my vacation and one week's worth of comp time/sick leave. I was able to spread it over three pay periods though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1281008 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:37:00 +0000 cmomma17 1281008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: my employer offers 6 weeks paid parental leave (mother or father), which I know is rare and amazing. If both parents work there, then mom gets 6 weeks paid and dad gets two weeks paid. Pretty awesome. I took ten weeks total leave because of this. Don't know how I would have afforded my maternity leave otherwise and I don't want to leave this job before having one more baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1281005 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:34:16 +0000 looch 1281005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: how does that work? I have to look closely at my pay stub, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280999 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:30:00 +0000 Pirouette 1280999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I do qualify for FMLA and I get no paid leave! So I feel your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280996 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 20:28:47 +0000 Pirouette 1280996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I know, im so jealous of nj paid leave! It sucks that my dh pays into it but I'm the one who needs mat leave and there are no such programs in ny. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280345 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:58:10 +0000 Anagram 1280345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: We have a smaller-scale version of this in NJ right now, called " NJ family leave insurance". Each worker in the whole state pays into FLI (it's really small, like $2 a pay check) and anyone who has worked 1 year can draw it for family leave. Having/adopting/fostering a child as well as taking care of an ill family member or being ill yourself makes you eligible. The payment depends on your salary, with a max of $500/week.</p> <p>The state of NJ doesn't seem to be good at anything (thinking back to getting my teacher's certifications, etc), but they managed to get me my FLI payments easily enough. Only took 2 weeks to process my application and another 2 weeks to receive the payment.</p> <p>I bet the US could figure out a way to make it happen on a larger scale. I guess because I have such little faith in the NJ state government, I figure if THEY can do it, anyone can. Seriously, calling anyone in Trenton for anything is like beating your head against a brick wall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280309 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:51:32 +0000 MamaMoose 1280309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate to be Debbie Downer but if Social Security is any indication of how this will go it's simply not financially feasible at this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280291 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:46:50 +0000 shellio 1280291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing this! @Anagram: I agree about the affordable child care! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280264 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:41:56 +0000 Anagram 1280264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I don't think it has to be an either-or. Personally, I think our country needs paid family leave AND affordable child care options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280198 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:26:52 +0000 looch 1280198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to like this program, I really do, but it misses the mark because as a working parent, affordable, accessible child are is a longer term issue that I would personally prefer to champion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280135 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:02:54 +0000 blackbird 1280135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch, yes, 2 cents per $10 in wages. A couple hundred a year it sounds like. Everyone would have to pay into it (not optional):<br /> "11. Can a worker or employer opt out of contributing to the fund? No. The FAMILY Act is designed to be a national insurance program that is supported by every worker and every employer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280089 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:48:03 +0000 looch 1280089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, with this proposal, you would have to pay into it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280040 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:26:59 +0000 avivoca 1280040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: It's a pain that FMLA only covers employers with more than 50 employees. I'm extremely lucky that my employer (private non-profit) allows 8 weeks of leave with an additional 4 at the discretion of our ED, but I wish I didn't have to use my paid time concurrently. I also wasn't allowed to use vacation time prior to my maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1280008 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:18:18 +0000 delight 1280008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: DH is a teacher and I also work in the schools (SLP) so I'm just going back from after March break til end of the year. DH will have to go back to work for June Exams, but he doesn't mind that! I'm sorry you couldn't work it out financially. It's going to be hard for us too, but I need to make some money for a few months otherwise the summer will be really tight because I don't get paid over any holidays like DH does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279995 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:15:19 +0000 LovelyPlum 1279995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: thanks for sharing this! I agree, it is BADLY needed. And you're right, FMLA isn't enough. I don't qualify for FMLA, and I get exactly one week of paid time off for this baby. I'm fortunate in that my department is flexible, and I really only have to figure out three additional weeks (we're on a semester schedule, and I'm due right before the end of the year). But seriously, what a pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279994 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:15:17 +0000 Charm54 1279994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: that is awesome! I'm a teacher so wanted my Dh to take the last few weeks of leave so we would be off together over the summer but financially it wouldn't work :-(</p> <p>@mrbee: some guaranteed, paid paternity leave when baby is first born would be amazing! I hope that's where we are headed next. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279987 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:12:13 +0000 Anagram 1279987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would be graet if we ALL wrote to our representatives. This is fabulous and a long time coming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279976 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:09:07 +0000 avivoca 1279976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This would be amazing! I especially like that it won't be limited to companies of a certain size. This past year was tough because I had to save my sick and vacation in order to be paid on my maternity leave. I don't qualify for FMLA at my job, so it was extremely stressful wondering if I'd even have a job to come back to. I will write to my representative about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279975 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:09:05 +0000 delight 1279975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: my DH and I are splitting the leave! I am taking 39 weeks and he is taking the last 11! It kinda just worked out that way with my work schedule, but it's nice for DH to have some time with LO too. I only have to go back to work 12 weeks starting in march and then we will both be off for the summer together. But you are right, most of the moms I know take the whole year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279971 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:07:46 +0000 mrbee 1279971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: In Sweden, 85% of dads take paternity leave!</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/world/europe/10iht-sweden.html?pagewanted=all" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/world/europe/10iht-sweden.html?pagewanted=all</a></p> <p>They reserve a few months of the paid parental leave exclusively for the father... Germany and Iceland have done variations of that as well! (Not sure how they handle same-sex or adoptive families.) This has led to large changes in the expectations and behavior of father in each country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279958 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:02:55 +0000 Charm54 1279958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely needed for all you American moms! FX it passes!</p> <p>@mrbee: here in Canada the last 35 weeks can be split between the mom and dad...however I've only ever known one father to take some of the time. 99% of the time the mother takes the full year vs the dad for a number of reasons. I think we here in Canada can do a better job of making it easier for dads to take that time off....Though I'd be reluctant to give up any of my time at home with DD ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279934 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:55:19 +0000 mrbee 1279934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds great to me!!</p> <p>Just a note that the article seems to carefully refer to this proposed program as "family leave"... it doesn't seem restricted to maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279907 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:49:07 +0000 Mrs. J 1279907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279883 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:44:39 +0000 Pirouette 1279883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I couldn't agree more! I get so angry when i think about the maternity leave situation...it is such a disgrace! and FMLA is a joke :(</p> <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I don't think you'd have to use vacation days - you should be able to just have the payments kick in! but who knows? it's an interesting question...</p> <p>I totally want to write to my representative! sounds like a nice activity for me during my unpaid maternity leave ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279431 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:55:59 +0000 MrsKoala 1279431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is awesome and one of my State reps introduced the bill! I really hope this happens! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279384 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:45:13 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1279384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This would be great.... but it's a bummer it won't be passed in time for me to actually use it :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279366 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:40:39 +0000 kiddosc 1279366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is so awesome to see. I've never written to my representatives before, but this will be the bill that finally spurs me to do it. This is so important and the US is so far behind the rest of the world in support of families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279337 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:33:22 +0000 Freckles 1279337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ALV91711: Hehe, jinx! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279336 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:33:15 +0000 pui 1279336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: @ALV91711: Thanks for the info!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-act-proposing-paid-maternity-leave#post-1279333 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:32:53 +0000 ALV91711 1279333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: Yes, through the gov't. You can get a year altogether. 15 weeks is maternity and the rest can be split between mom and dad. They pay 55% up to a max amount, I can't remember what that is. Your employer has to hold a position for you for a year. Some employers chooses to top up some of the pay, but most don't. </p>