Anyone want to sign a petition for US maternity leave?

[FAB mama]

I came across this petition this morning about getting paid maternity leave for US mothers. It's heartbreaking to think some mothers must return to work at 6 weeks and most by 3 months.

Please sign!
https://www.change.org/p/u-s-congres...aternity-leave

(also posted in other sections… moderators, if that's not allowed I'm sorry!)

 

[Genevevex]

Link didn't work. But yes, that will be me in a couple months. 6 weeks, and back at work.

 

[FAB mama]

Try this link maybe?

https://www.change.org/p/u-s-congre...ntitles-all-u-s-women-to-paid-maternity-leave

So sorry to hear you have to go back so early!

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Here's another one that I had found on at Working Mother: https://secure2.convio.net/npwf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=643

 

[emeeorevan]

Yes. I will sign as this will be me soon too. I only have paid sick days to take so I will only have off 20 work days (4 weeks)!! I could take up to 12 weeks through FMLA but it would be unpaid.

 

[Laylagirl]

Yes. I will sign as this will be me soon too. I only have paid sick days to take so I will only have off 20 work days (4 weeks)!! I could take up to 12 weeks through FMLA but it would be unpaid.

I thought FMLA was paid? I had four months off and it was paid.. That wasn't including the start before the actual birth.. I had 12 weeks FMLA and the first 6 weeks post partum... I got paid for all my time off..

 

[Ashersmomma]

Signed!!!! I'm not working right now, but I was when I had DS and will hopefully be whenever we have another. It's ridiculous that working mothers don't already have this right! I was given 8 weeks for my C-section, but wasn't paid as I was screwed out of short term disability.

 

[Ashersmomma]

Yes. I will sign as this will be me soon too. I only have paid sick days to take so I will only have off 20 work days (4 weeks)!! I could take up to 12 weeks through FMLA but it would be unpaid.

I thought FMLA was paid? I had four months off and it was paid.. That wasn't including the start before the actual birth.. I had 12 weeks FMLA and the first 6 weeks post partum... I got paid for all my time off..

Some companies pay, but it's up to the discretion of the company. Most do not pay. There is a possibility of short term disability, but the first week isn't paid, and if you're like me, you end up getting screwed out of that.

 

[ILUVSHOPPING]

My job gives me the option of using my 5 sick days for that 1st unpaid week of short term disability. Unfortunately I have no sick time left. I'll be taking the 12 weeks through fmla and the majority of my time will be unpaid.

 

[Laylagirl]

Yes. I will sign as this will be me soon too. I only have paid sick days to take so I will only have off 20 work days (4 weeks)!! I could take up to 12 weeks through FMLA but it would be unpaid.

I thought FMLA was paid? I had four months off and it was paid.. That wasn't including the start before the actual birth.. I had 12 weeks FMLA and the first 6 weeks post partum... I got paid for all my time off..

Some companies pay, but it's up to the discretion of the company. Most do not pay. There is a possibility of short term disability, but the first week isn't paid, and if you're like me, you end up getting screwed out of that.

Ah... I see... So the FMLA you can get if you want it, but only some companies will pay you for it.. I never knew that.. But yes, I agree that families should be able to stay home longer and not worry about the financial struggle of wanting to bond..

 

[DebbieF]

Signed.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Happy to say my husband signed as well

 

[emeeorevan]

Yes. I will sign as this will be me soon too. I only have paid sick days to take so I will only have off 20 work days (4 weeks)!! I could take up to 12 weeks through FMLA but it would be unpaid.

I thought FMLA was paid? I had four months off and it was paid.. That wasn't including the start before the actual birth.. I had 12 weeks FMLA and the first 6 weeks post partum... I got paid for all my time off..

Some companies pay, but it's up to the discretion of the company. Most do not pay. There is a possibility of short term disability, but the first week isn't paid, and if you're like me, you end up getting screwed out of that.

Ah... I see... So the FMLA you can get if you want it, but only some companies will pay you for it.. I never knew that.. But yes, I agree that families should be able to stay home longer and not worry about the financial struggle of wanting to bond..

I don't work for a company. I work for the state (teacher in public school) and we are considered contract workers. I didn't have long or short term disability as I couldn't afford the premiums. So any fmla for me would be unpaid. The only pay I get is sick and personal days. Thank goodness I have 20 sick days and two personal days built up!! Otherwise it would be all unpaid leave like a friend of mine had to take for her maternity leave in October.
I couldn't afford not to be paid and then have to pay the doctor bills for delivery that would show up just as I was returning to work.

 

[Surprised26]

FMLA just protects you from getting fired for the missed work time. Most companies don't pay out at all for maternity leave and since it's stressed that "pregnancy isn't a disability" short term disability will only be paid if you have a good insurance company that views it as such. Had I not been fired for getting pregnant in the first place, I would have had to return to work before the standard 6 weeks, any time off would have been unpaid.

 

[emeeorevan]

Crappy part is for me I will be off and have a sub but I still have to "work" as I am still responsible for my students achievement and growth and I am responsible for supplying the daily lesson plans that the sub is supposed to follow (but there is no guarantee she will follow them!!)
so I will be off but still have to work. Even now I have to take my work home with me in order to stay on top of things!! I love teaching Nd I love kids but something's gotta give in our educational system!! I don't know of any one who has to take their work home with them and yet doesn't get compensated for it! Sorry.... Rant over

 

[minties]

It's an absolute crying shame. 6 weeks?! I had only just come to terms with having my daughter by then. I will sign.

 

[ajlj1126]

Husband and I signed! Currently only 3 states offer paid FMLA, New Jersey, California and Rhode Island, so maybe PP is from one of these states?
I truly don't understand why we lag behind on this issue at all. The only other country that offers no paid maternity leave is Papua New Guinea.

 

[Genevevex]

I signed. Ug. This whole topic just makes me want to cry thinking about it. My company has short term disability which covers pregnancy--so as long as that kicks in, I will at least be able to take 6 weeks (though at a reduced rate than my current pay). But that will be all.

 

[daydreaming22]

Crappy part is for me I will be off and have a sub but I still have to "work" as I am still responsible for my students achievement and growth and I am responsible for supplying the daily lesson plans that the sub is supposed to follow (but there is no guarantee she will follow them!!)
so I will be off but still have to work. Even now I have to take my work home with me in order to stay on top of things!! I love teaching Nd I love kids but something's gotta give in our educational system!! I don't know of any one who has to take their work home with them and yet doesn't get compensated for it! Sorry.... Rant over

I'm in the same situation! I teach high school chemistry and will be working from home (unpaid of course)