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I think that is pretty common, actually (and unfortunately). I work for a large non-profit and they do offer the option to purchase short-term disability insurance, but I didn't get it as I have enough accrued vacation/sick leave to get me through the 12 weeks I want to take.

I am pretty sure there are individual short-term disability policies you can purchase on your own before getting pregnant. That might be worth looking into?

@JoJoGirl: unfortunately it is perfectly legal in the US. The only thing a company with over 50 employees is legally required to do is allow you 12 weeks of unpaid FMLA leave. They must allow you to return to your job after the 12 weeks is up.

Completely legal, I get nothing and work fulltime/salary for a fairly large and successful international business. If FMLA applies they are legally required to offer the 12 weeks (unpaid) and with that guarantee your position/equilivent to your position when you return, but they are in no way required to pay you during your leave. This may vary depending on state laws as well, but in my state paid maternity leave is a benefit, one that many are not privy too. My business gives us a free week of vacation as a congrats, and then forces me to use all of my PTO in conjunction with FMLA not in addition too.

Yes, legal. However, see if you can purchase your own short term disability insurance. My company offers it (through Aflac) but does not subsidize it. So I basically pay for it myself, which is a compromise to not having any paid leave at all. I worked it out and it was worthwhile as long as I took a maternity leave within 3 years I think.

Yup unfortunately this is the norm in the US. I don't get any paid maternity leave and because I'm an attorney with billable hour requirements and no set PTO, I can't even use PTO time for maternity leave. All I get is 6 weeks of short term disability through the state, (55% of my salary), and then another 6 weeks of paid family leave. Luckily my state is one of the few that actually pays for family leave. It's really really difficult to financially plan and prepare for maternity leave. GOOD LUCK!

Yep, I don't have any paid maternity leave. Can you purchase short term disability insurance? I believe they have to offer you the ability to purchase.

@JoJoGirl: Do you know what is happening with your leave hours (sick/annual leave)? I know for us, we don't technically get a paid leave, but we are given generous leave hours/days that we can use during maternity time if we want to be paid while out. I was able to stock up and save to be paid in full for 12 weeks.

My company offers nothing.

Legal, mat leave is a benefit not a right.

Many of the people I interact with work for very small businesses and the new moms are often back at work within a week or two after giving birth. They can only afford to take off without pay for a week or two. Honestly even if they saved up to stay out longer their employers would be strapped for help and the women would lose their jobs.

@pinkcupcake: Employers with less than 50 employees are exempt from FMLA.

@JoJoGirl: We knew ahead of time (and expected it due to coworkers) so we just started putting money aside each week so we had enough built up for the 9 weeks I wouldn't be paid (I had 3 weeks vacation built up.) This round I'm a little more nervous, we haven't been as good about building up a nice extra stash with some unexpected expenses so I'm nervous for March. However, I guess if it comes to it I don't take the full 12 weeks and cut it down to 9 or 10.

@JoJoGirl: I work in employment law, so I see PTO and leave policies all day. 4 weeks of PTO is pretty generous (regardless of the number of days you typically work in a week, since you obviously don't need to use PTO for the 3 days a week you have off already).

Good luck TTC!!!

Legal and unfortunately perfectly common. FMLA =/= paid mat leave.

@MrsBananaGrabber: Thats so hard 4 weeks is the norm! We get a ton where I work, plus can do some flex time (so if I take 2 hours for an appointment one afternoon, but stay late two nights, I never take leave).

As many have said, this is unfortunately pretty common. If it were my I'd probably cancel the August vacation if you can't afford to lose that week of paid time off before baby comes. Some places don't have any maternity leave at all - paid or unpaid - so really it could be much worse. It sucks, but that's how it is in the US. And I agree with PPs that 4 weeks a year is pretty generous, regardless of whether or not it covers sick time. My DH works for a small business where there is no paid leave or paid sick time, no insurance offered, and he gets one week each year for vacation. We had to skip taking a vacation whenever we were having a baby that year so that I could have him home for a week after the baby was born. And it still didn't happen with our first child - someone else was already on vacation, so he has to go back to work the day I came home from the hospital. I guess what I'm saying is that your work's policies, while not as generous as they used to be, are still something I'm envious of!

I was offered nothing but fmla. No pay.

We only get FMLA (unpaid) and technically they offer STD but it's only up to $900 a month and if you use PTO it cancels out your STD. You can't take both. So basically I get nothing. On the plus side, just wanted to say congrats on beginning to try again! I know there were days in the past you weren't sure you wanted more.