https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:07:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1220118 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:11:59 +0000 Lindsay05 1220118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe in here in Canada you can extend your leave up to 18 months for medical reasons. I know I had the option of even extending my leave (for no medical reason) up to 18 months (6 months unpaid) and my employer had to hold my job.</p> <p>I hope the US can extend their leave. But all good things do come with a price so as many others said, I am not sure where that cost would even come from. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1220107 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:03:58 +0000 googly-eyes 1220107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Vegmama: that too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1220105 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:03:22 +0000 googly-eyes 1220105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1219867 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:04:57 +0000 doodlepoodle 1219867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: I think it's a common misunderstanding, I didn't fully understand it until I started working in hr. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1219792 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:36:58 +0000 dc yoga bee 1219792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told with FMLA I dont get any paid time off, just whatevet sick and annual leave I have, and then can take up to 12 weeks unpaid. That can really end up being a financial burden on families if say ypu only have 3-4 weeks paid. I support some sort of federal mandated PAID time off. FMLA doesn't give you 12 weeks paid, and a lot of people mistaken believe it does. I did, and a lot of my colleagues did too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1219781 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:34:09 +0000 Freckles 1219781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Vegmama: Canada is 52 weeks (27 weeks maternity, 35 weeks parental), 55% of your earnings up to a max of $485 per week. If you are in a low-income family, it goes up to 80% of your earnings up to a max of $485/wk. They recently expanded leave for military families up to 104 weeks. There are obviously requirements before you can be eligible for these benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1219763 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:28:22 +0000 Vegmama 1219763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish that ALL women could take time off after baby. I'm self-employed, so that means I can take time off, but I won't get paid for any of it.</p> <p>The government (local or federal) should have programs like temporary unemployment for all mamas ... Even 12 weeks would be amazing! Other countries do it (Canada is 9 months, right?) ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1217422 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:54:34 +0000 Boogs 1217422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think any increase would be a step in the right direction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1217328 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:20:05 +0000 LovelyPlum 1217328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would LOVE this, but I don't qualify now for FMLA. I have two weeks of paid days off, and that's it. I am really lucky that I have a supportive department and to be due close to the end of the semester. Otherwise, I would have had to take the whole semester off, which would have meant we needed COBRA, because our insurance is through me. Really, it's insane, and any expansion of who qualifies for FMLA would be amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1216911 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:11:42 +0000 Mae 1216911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: The problem with that is sort of three-fold though. First, the bar for "decent maternity leave" is ridiculously low. On an international scale 12 weeks paid leave is still woefully inadequate. Second, among most professional jobs until you get to the really higher levels (which are often occupied by people who are done having kids) it is a buyer's market. Most fields are over-saturated with entry level or lower level employees, which are the ones most likely to need maternity leave. Third, this would really only be true among white-collar type industries. For those who work blue collar jobs, the market is even more saturated and these jobs give almost no benefits beyond those federally mandated. Good maternity leave should not just be for those who went to college and have professional jobs, it is probably needed even more for those who work blue collar on-your-feet type jobs like grocery store clerks and factory workers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks/page/2#post-1215670 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:49:08 +0000 MamaMoose 1215670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: "Decent maternity leave should be a tool companies use to attract talented people." I think it is already! My company gives 12 weeks fully paid maternity leave and that was definitely party of my decision to work here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215656 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:45:20 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1215656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Someone may have said this already, but how long you get paid out of your 12 weeks of job protection under FMLA varies from state to state. For example, in PA, you don't receive any payment unless you have a short term disability policy with your company. But there are some companies who don't even offer that...so it's the full 12 weeks unpaid. </p> <p>Even given that, I would still welcome the 24 weeks of job protection! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215633 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:37:15 +0000 blackbird 1215633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch, I like the way you think. THOSE things make being a working mom better/easier. </p> <p>"maternity leave needs to be federally regulated to be paid, and at least 24 weeks."</p> <p>I'm such a curmudgeon, but if companies end up eating this cost, they'll just end up paying us all less to cover it. </p> <p>I wish they'd just make working mom situations better. I think that would behoove us all more in the long run than extending our maternity leave options. Not that people wouldn't jump on it, but I'd rather see more family friendly opportunities in the day-to-day business. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215626 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:34:56 +0000 Freckles 1215626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: I think it's more forward thinking than generosity! If the mom decides she doesn't want to return to work then you have to look for someone new, and the costs associated with a new hire are greater than most people think!</p> <p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/05/09/is-maternity-leave-in-america-changing-for-the-better/" rel="nofollow">http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/05/09/is-maternity-leave-in-america-changing-for-the-better/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/news/2013/03/08/55683/the-united-states-needs-to-guarantee-paid-maternity-leave/" rel="nofollow">http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/news/2013/03/08/55683/the-united-states-needs-to-guarantee-paid-maternity-leave/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215616 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:29:44 +0000 kiddosc 1215616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: This actually asking for their to be a mandatory paid maternity leave " maternity leave needs to be federally regulated to be paid, and at least 24 weeks." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215615 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:29:39 +0000 regberadaisy 1215615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: agree!!! I often hear even on here on some of the amazing maternity benefits some of us US mamas get due to their company's generosity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215611 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:27:50 +0000 septca 1215611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This would just expand FMLA from 12 weeks (the current protection) to 24 weeks. It has nothing to do with pay (so, would not actually cost taxpayers anything - employers, yes, but taxpayers, no). Whether you get paid/can take paid leave/can use STD insurance is completely up to your employer and/or your state and is not Federally-regulated. Some states already offer more than 12 weeks under their FMLA standards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215602 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:20:21 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1215602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: here, here</p> <p>Decent maternity leave should be a tool companies use to attract talented people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215598 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:18:10 +0000 Ginabean3 1215598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>that would be amazing! I was lucky enough to get 5 months off paid, combo of FMLA and PTO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215593 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:17:16 +0000 purrpletulips 1215593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This would be nice, but it states some things that aren't really accurate. I work for a state university and while I can get 12 weeks of leave, it is only paid if I use my vacation/sick time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215587 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:16:20 +0000 mediagirl 1215587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree. Especially for smaller companies who rely on every single employee to do more than just their "job" every day. Thinking of that, I'm sure if this ever did happen, the same FMLA rules would apply where companies of less than a certain number of employees would be exempt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215585 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:15:34 +0000 regberadaisy 1215585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: there is but I'm sure you probably have to be below poverty level! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215584 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:15:29 +0000 cascademom 1215584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: In my experience with my company and one person on maternity leave in Canada, she had someone do her job for the year that she was off. Her away message stated when she would return. When she returned after a year, she was shocked that I started back to work with LO being 13 weeks old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215583 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:15:05 +0000 Freckles 1215583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: It's definitely a lot easier to fill a more junior role for 1 year, as it's a great stepping stone for younger employees to get experience. A lot of my friends after graduation started off filling in 1 year mat leaves and sometimes another position will open up or the person they're filling in for won't come back so they end up staying there. </p> <p>For more senior positions, we post internally/externally. Internally, it would be a secondment and an opportunity for someone to get more management experience. For my situation, we were lucky in that a former employee expressed interest in coming back and he took over my role for a year.</p> <p>ETA: Maybe it's just me, but i think everyone is replaceable. We try to plan ahead of time and make sure that the new person is trained prior to the expectant mother going on leave. Luckily, the laws are in place so i can't easily get pushed out when i get back (at least not without a fight). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215570 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:09:09 +0000 looch 1215570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also think it is going to be a difficult sell to the firms that have to support an extended maternity leave.<br /> I often wonder how this is handled in Canada. Let's say I am due to go out on maternity leave for a year, who steps in to fill my role? Is there a large pool of highly skilled and specialized temporary workers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215566 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:05:54 +0000 yoursilverlining 1215566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: yes, agree! and the daycare tax credit and dependent care accounts which are woefully outdated shoukd be updated. 5k a year max; that's 4 months of actual daycare tuition expenses for me, and our daycare isn't insanely pricey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215565 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:05:37 +0000 Freckles 1215565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Oops, you answered my question! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215563 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 11:04:53 +0000 Freckles 1215563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree with you, and you offer some great points. Does the US offer subsidies for low-income families? Quebec offers subsidized daycare for all families regardless of income, and some provinces have started or are starting to provide full-day kindergarten in public schools. DH's employer provides their employees with a $2500/yr child subsidy...it's not much but any bit helps.</p> <p>@pinkcupcake: I feel like there will be a backlash though, which makes me sad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215550 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 10:58:52 +0000 looch 1215550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Yeah, that's why I said for all families! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/white-house-petition-to-expand-maternity-leave-coverage-to-24-weeks#post-1215549 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 10:58:37 +0000 littlebug 1215549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @Freckles: I'm willing to pay some higher taxes for better maternity leave. Not that I think I'll need it again in the future, but for my fellow womenfolk, I think longer than 6-12 weeks would be awesome. </p>