Do any of you know the ins and outs of FMLA? It might be more specific since I work in the public schools. My six weeks of paid maternity leave run out before Winter Break. I plan to take 6 more weeks unpaid. But if there is a 2 week break in there, does that have to count as UNpaid leave, or can I tack 2 more unpaid weeks onto my unpaid portion - do you see what I mean? I probably need to take it to Human Resources, but I have to have exact wording or I know they'll give me the run-around.
Does anyone have any input? If there's a better place to post this, let me know.
Your fmla will start on the date you start taking the unpaid leave and they can make you count the winter break as fmla time. It's at the discretion of the company.
So the thing to ask HR is just whether they will break it up or if they can make it intermittent leave so that the block of winter break is not counted.
They don't legally have to do that but some will.
Mom2M has it right. They don't have to let you have the winter break PLUS six more weeks. My employer told me that after 12 weeks off, if I try to take any more time, they no longer have to protect a job for me and I risk being terminated, especially if they need the help. It sucks!
I am in a similar situation except my winter 2 week break is paid. My plan is to take my six weeks paid, 2 weeks company paid break, then six weeks unpaid. To do this I have to STOP the FMLA by going into work the day before the break AND the day after the break. Then I can resume the FLMA unpaid portion. You will probably have to talk with your HR department to get the correct answer for your situation. The way it works for us you have to be an "ACTIVE" employee to take the break. I wonder if this would be true if it were paid or unpaid...
And you know, I have been wondering - if we have our babies in 2009, we take FMLA in '09, then does the FMLA counter reset on Jan. 1 2010, giving you another full 12 weeks for the 2010 year? Or is it "12 weeks in any consecutive 12 month period"? If one had the paid leave accrued, 24 weeks of maternity leave would be awesome!
Very much too bad, although I think my protestant work ethic guilt would get the better of me if I took a 6 month leave from work. Oh, how I wish the US had the same standards for maternity leave that most of Europe does - a year, paid, guarantee of a position when you return. Now THAT would be supporting a Family Values agenda for real!
Originally Posted by kcparker
Very much too bad, although I think my protestant work ethic guilt would get the better of me if I took a 6 month leave from work. Oh, how I wish the US had the same standards for maternity leave that most of Europe does - a year, paid, guarantee of a position when you return. Now THAT would be supporting a Family Values agenda for real!
Originally Posted by kcparker
Very much too bad, although I think my protestant work ethic guilt would get the better of me if I took a 6 month leave from work.
Bwahahaha--i must have a heathen play ethic, cause I would be all over that
as it is, i'm part-time, so FMLA doesn't apply to me. all my time off is unpaid--but i have an awesome boss, and more job security than i could possibly hope for, given the circumstances
it looks like i'll be off/working at home a few hrs a week from mid-August til about January
I would be all over as much time as they would give me. My dh is from Europe and rubs in how great the leave is there. I would be more than happy to take a year!
I contacted my district and used Mom2M's wording. (Thanks!) As it turns out, in this district, the 12 weeks are 12 WORK weeks, so the Winter Break does not count against me!!
: I will happily take those two "extra" weeks and Thanksgiving Break days at the end of my leave.
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