I am due in a month, and I was wondering how long everyone who is returning to work is planning to take off with the baby. I just talked to my leave manager today, and found out that I have to get special authorization to take more than the allowed 6 weeks for the vaginal birth. I thought you could just take 12 weeks under the FMLA if you chose to do so. Guess I was wrong. Did anyone take only 6 weeks and was this enough time? Did anyone have issues requesting more time and how was management about it?
(I work at a rather large company)

__________________
Mom to Kaylee (10/2006) and Madalyn (1/2009)

I took FMLA with both my babies. I didn't have a problem getting approved at all. I work for a major corporation as well. If I remember correctly, there was a form involved, and I think I just had to get my OB/GYN to sign it, and that was all. 99% they won't deny it.

I took about 7 weeks off when I had my son. I had asked for the 7 weeks off and then to return part time for several weeks before resuming full-time. They said no - either come back or don't come back but you can't come back part-time. I didn't feel like they were respecting me much as an employee. I only got 7 weeks instead of 6 because of how timing fell around the holidays! I also had saved up vacation/sick time so was able to take the whole time off and get paid.

You should be able to take 12 weeks off (unpaid) through FMLA but I do think there are some regulations regarding circumstances FMLA applies to so maybe they just meant you have to fill out extra paperwork to make sure your circumstance applies. Obviously having a baby would be an appropriate use of FMLA but there would probably be some people who would try to use it because their dog has a hangnail so thus extra headache for those of us trying to follow the rules.

Good luck - hope your company works with you whatever you want to do. Going back to work after maternity leave will probably be one of the hardest things you've ever had to do in your life.

__________________
Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

I also thought there was a law that stated if you worked for a company with "x" number of employees, you can take additional time off. I would pursue it, if you are interested in doing so. I am betting that you can get more time off if you need/want it without it being a problem with your job! Good luck. I needed the full six weeks to recover with most of my children..and could not have imagined going back to work that quick. However, my sister went back after 4 weeks with both of hers. She was ready, and her dr. gave her permission both times.

__________________

If you meet the following criteria you should qualify for FMLA if you give birth or adopt a child.

• You work for the federal government, a state or local government, or any company that has 50 or more employees working within 75 miles of your workplace.

• You've worked for your employer for at least 12 months and for at least 1,250 hours during the previous year (an average of 25 hours per week for 50 weeks).

There are a few exceptions: Your employer isn't required to keep your job open for you if you're in the highest-paid 10 percent of wage earners at your company and your employer can show that your absence would cause substantial economic harm to the organization.

Another exception is if you and your partner work for the same company. In this case, you're only entitled to a combined 12 weeks of parental leave between the two of you.

There maybe forms you need to fill out but you should be entitled to FMLA.

I only took six weeks. Although I wanted to stay home, physically/mentally, I did not need to. I could have come back after 4 weeks. My body was ready and my 4 yo was driving me crazy.

I was entitled to 12 weeks on FMLA, but I could not go 6 weeks unpaid. I went 2 weeks unpaid and that was VERY rough.

Under the FMLA law, you are eligible to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of your child and your job and benefits are safe for the duration of your leave. You are considered disabled for the 6-8 weeks after giving birth and the rest of the time, it would fall under the 'family' part of Family Medical Leave Act...taking care of a family member.

I think it says under the DOL website that it is up to the company to approve the rest of the leave.

At my company, women off on maternity leave don't even need to fill out the Certification form, since it is obvious why they are taking off. I took off 7 weeks with my ds and the whole 12 weeks with my dd. It was hard coming back, but had to for financial reasons.

Check the website www.dol.gov and see what you can come up with. That really bites if they won't allow you to take the full time off.

I take care of the leaves at my work, so if you have any questions, feel free to email/pm me.

It's been a while, but with my first, I took 9 weeks off paid using sick time, and the second I took 8 weeks off paid. There is a law that states you can take up to 2 yrs off and it's called "child rearin leave". It is unpaid, but they HAVE to hold a job for you. It may not be the same job, but it is a job to go back to. I am sure that is still around, so check further. I don't believe it is FMLA though. It's something different.

I took the 10 weeks for both sons. 4 before delivery and 8 after delivery. I know other ladies in my company who tool FMLA which i beleive can be up to 3 months. and they never had a problem getting it. SOme then switched to parttime and never had a problem getting it either.

I took a wk!