MAT LEAVE

Amanda - posted on 04/26/2010

Canada too. I took the full year with my last and i'll be doing it again. was a single mom with the last and somehow managed on the 55% so i know i can do it again, even tho i make less now. (the bc bonus and canada child tax will certainly help).



I'd heard they raised the time amount here in BC right when my last leave ended. So i'll be looking into that. If i can get more than a year off, paid, then i'll take it.

Kathy - posted on 04/24/2010

NICE!! 55% isn't very much at all... I have often questioned how a single mom could do it

Natalia - posted on 04/24/2010

Haha Kathy! I wish I could share the benefits with you! We get a top up to 94% with my employer...

Andrea - posted on 04/23/2010

mabyn- i was told 18 months, but have not found anything to support it. i feel so awful for the US moms- i couldn't imagine only having weeks, even 12! we get the year paid, up to %55 however there is a max. its not much but so worth it!

Dianne - posted on 04/23/2010

Not only is Maternity Leave a dead loss in the US, but we are 68th in the world for Maternal/Child Morbidity and Mortality. There are war-torn European countries that provide better prenatal, intranatal, and post natal care than the US.

Kathy - posted on 04/23/2010

wow you are lucky Natalia!! I'll trade you jobs!! lol

Natalia - posted on 04/22/2010

I am from Canada too, but I have a great Union that offers an extended Mat Leave of an extra 6 months!! Sooo lucky;)

J - posted on 04/08/2010

I think the US maternity laws are disgraceful 6 weeks 8 weeks I had a c-section and there was no way I was ready to go back to work after 8 weeks but I've seen people attempt to do this and they're only hurting themselves and risking that the incision will open up, etc. We should have paid maternity leave that has nothing to do with sick time, vacation time, etc. A lot of mothers are forced to go back to work before they are ready b/c of financial reasons and it's so unfair to mother and baby. I went back to work when my son was 4 months old and I wish I could've stayed out much longer as finding a responsible and affordable childcare provider isn't easy. FMLA to me is garbage they need to provide PAID leave to mothers being a new mother is a huge adjustment especially if you are a first time mom. The paid leave would provide so much piece of mind to new mothers and they could spend time bonding with their babies and recovering from the birth instead of worrying about anything financial.

Kathy - posted on 04/06/2010

Mabyn, I've never hear that, but it would be awesome!! If they do I hope its before we have our second. I also think they should increase the percentage of pay you get some... I mean sure you don't have to worry about going back and forth to work but 55% of your income to raise a baby and keep yourself clothed and fed isn't much. I don't know how single moms do it. Amber your right that would be awesome!! It would help alot to get 80%!!

Mabyn - posted on 04/06/2010

Andrea, do you know if they're considering increasing it to 18mos for the rest of Canada? Just curious cause I live in Canada as well and think that 18mos would just be awesome!

Amber - posted on 04/05/2010

I'm from Canada and have a year and that could be longer...you poor moms in the US I couldn't imagine 6 weeks that sucks we should all move to Norway 54 weeks at 80% pay that would be awsome!

Angela - posted on 04/03/2010

When I was working at Walmart, they told me for a normal birth I would get 6 weeks off and if it was c-section I'd get 8 weeks off. That really isn't enough time! United States needs to give longer maternity leave.

Kathy - posted on 04/01/2010

Nice, I wish we got 80% of our pay, we get about 55% in Canada, unless your job's benefits say otherwise.

Annelise - posted on 03/30/2010

I am from Norway. We get 54 weeks on 80% of pay, which is wonderful! The dad has to take 6 weeks of that, but it's legal to share the time almost any way you like (except the 3 weeks before term date and first 6 weeks after, which are reserved for the mum). I was forced out of my job for different reasons just before I went on Leave, but I got myself a lawyer who forced the company to pay me for the full leave period. I am now a full-time student.

Kathy - posted on 03/30/2010

I agree 6-12 weeks is just terrible, makes me think they don't care about the kids at all, before it was a year here we had 6 months and the government decided that just wasn't long enough. Believe me Liz, if we could do it finacially right now I wouldn't go back, I'd be a sahm, hopefully I'll get to after we have our second!

Liz - posted on 03/30/2010

why leave your baby at all, wait until they go to school. i think 6 weeks mat leave is awful.

Lauren - posted on 03/29/2010

I am in Texas, I got 8 weeks because I had a c-section. A year sounds wonderful! Those 8 weeks flew by (he's now 6 months)

Modupe - posted on 03/28/2010

Lucky you, we get just 3 months here in Nigeria. Wish i could move to Canada, lol...

Katie - posted on 03/27/2010

sorry, by *he i mean my fiancee

Katie - posted on 03/27/2010

i was working full time up until i went on maternity leave. i was allocated 12 months unpaid leave. the (5 star) hotel i work at does not have a paid leave scheme. which sucked, i was 20 when i took mat leave. thankgod for centrelink giving me some benefits, or we would have ended up homeless. I so badly want another one so the age gap is not huge, but i just cant afford to! I was so scared we would have ended up in a ditch because he had severe galandular fever and found it extremely difficult to get up for work every morning. I am now back at work, which is good, i just miss my little girl. I just feel sorry for all the americans who are only getting 6 weeks!!! poor buggers. that is just not long enough to spend with your baby. Paid mat leave for australia is introduced january 2011!!! :) :) :) :)

Dominique - posted on 03/27/2010

Wow...that would have been nice. I took 6 weeks paid but could have taken up to 3 months unpaid.

Laurie - posted on 03/27/2010

Under FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) any female is entitled to 12 unpaid weeks of maternity leave (meaning their employer cannot fire them or stop their insurance for that time). If you have private disability, you may be paid for up to 8 weeks for a c-section delivery (with no complications). FMLA is both for adoptions and regular deliveries.

Basically, maternity leave sucks in the states. I hear in Europe it is even better than one year!

Claire - posted on 03/27/2010

Im from the UK and can have up to a year, but its not all paid, so Im only taking 9mths as we cant afford to take any longer.

Gina - posted on 03/27/2010

Wow! I wish we got a year of maternity leave in the US! Even if it was unpaid I would be thrilled. I had what I thought was a long maternity leave. For medical reasons my leave started 2 weeks before my babies were born, then according to state law because I had twins I was able to take off 16 weeks after the babies were born. I receiver short term disability pay for 8 weeks and used all of my remaining sick and vacation time so that I was paid for 10 weeks of that time. I was able to start back of about a month part time once my leave was over but I ended up having to leave in the end because I was having a hard time finding child care for two small babies that I could afford. Now not only do I have to find child care, but I have to find a new job! Things would have been much less stressful if I could have had a little more time off, even if it was unpaid.

Aki - posted on 03/26/2010

You are very fortunate, blessed, lucky, etc. I am from the U.S and we get 6 weeks and 12 wks if there are documented health complications. I worked for Catholic Charities-Twin Cities, a nonprofit organization; your insurance may play a major part in the amount of time for your maternity leave. Most likely, those in the U.S. that can afford great insurance get a little more time and those with poor insurance have the least amount of time.
The U.S. has significant health insurance difficulties......... in this particular situation the infants probably suffer most with regard to the maternity leave situation.

YaY Maternity Leave in Canada!

Kathy - posted on 03/26/2010

I don't think I could have handled only having 6 weeks, my incision came open and I woulda been stuck with 2 months at least anyways... I'm in Canada too and I'm taking the full year, money's getting tight but its also going WAY too fast. I go back in August but if I can find a way to stay home with her at least till kindergarten I will gladly do so!

Amanda - posted on 03/26/2010

I wish they cared about us that much in the US. I fought my last job on the maternity leave. They only give 6 weeks, but after I had researched and found out the US has a federal law protecting all families under the FMLA, I told them I would take the full 12 weeks according to federal law. I showed them the proof and a letter from my family lawyer that stated by law I was allotted no more than 12 weeks according to federal law and if I were to take more than it would come out of my sick and or personal days. Needless to say, they had to abide.

Bethan - posted on 03/26/2010

Wales, uk, We can take up to a year - the pay is staggered down every three months, 9 -12 months unpaid. I am taking the full12 months, 2 months left and I am teraful at the thought of leaving my boy already

Cinys - posted on 03/26/2010

Im in Canada and I got a year off... I go back in August. However I need to go back early because of the money situation :(
If i could work from home until she started school it would be ideal
I want to stay with my baby girl :(

Elizabeth - posted on 03/26/2010

I'm in NZ. We're entitled to 13 weeks paid parental leave, and then up to 39 further weeks unpaid (i.e. your job has to be kept open for your return). The leave can be taken by mum, or dad, or a combo of both (i.e. some couples will do 6 months each). Despite this, I had to go back to work at 6 mths for financial reasons. My husband is at home with our darling daughter though (lost his job, but he didn't earn enough to pay the mortgage anyway). I would love to be home, but daddy and daughter are getting a rare and early opportunity to bond, and I do treasure that.

There are also some tax credits available that are supposed to assist families in living on one income while mum (or dad) stays at home.

As I recall, these were election issues that were credited with helping the government of the time get into power.

Not legislating sufficient paid parental leave is pretty short sighted really. Parents are raising the next generation of tax-paying workers, after all!

Corlia - posted on 03/26/2010

In south africa it completely depends on your company. average is 3 months. my company give 3 months without any pay. ridiculous. a year is like AMAZING

Vicki - posted on 03/25/2010

Amazing that the richest country in the world has the worst maternity leave provisions...

I'm in Australia. My employer paid me 12 weeks, I'd saved up 8 weeks annual leave. I'm taking a total of 18 months maternity leave. I spread my maternity and annual leave payments over 6 months to slowly get used to earning less money. Now I'm earning nothing but we're doing ok on my partner's wage.

The best seems to be Bulgaria. 45 days of 100 percent paid leave prior to due date, 2 years paid leave, 1 additional year unpaid. Employer must restore the woman to the same position when she returns to work.

Anna - posted on 03/25/2010

In colorado we only get 6 weeks

Melanie - posted on 03/25/2010

I got a total of 4 months off, all paid (8 weeks short term disability for c-sec, 8 weeks paid parental leave). I didn't even have to use any of my paid vacation for it! My company has a great policy and they allow for up to 24 weeks off (paid or unpaid). I could have probably taken about 4 more weeks of if I used all my vacation time, but due to my work commitments it wasn't really feasible. I live in Michigan.

Debbie - posted on 03/25/2010

A whole year! Lucky. We are only allowed 6 to 8 weeks in Arizona depending on if it was vaginal or c section.

Sandy - posted on 03/25/2010

yup. 1 year paid maternity leave. I'm really not anxious on going back to work in the fall, cause it has gone by wayyy too fast. I also took off work 12 weeks early on medical leave (paid) before i had my son, so i guess it will be over a year of mat leave in my case.

Mary - posted on 03/25/2010

I'm from Ireland, we get 6 months paid matnerity leave provided that you you have enough social security stamps built up from employment. Then you have the option of taking 14 weeks of unpaid leave to be taken immediately after. Then there is another 14 weeks of parental leave, also unpaid which can be taken up untill the child is 8 years I think. Wish we had a full year here. I am due to return to work shortly, after matnerity leave and one months unpaid leave. He will be about 7.5 months then.

Renae - posted on 03/25/2010

i'm from australia and i got 6 weeks paid and 2 years unpaid leave.

Lisa - posted on 03/25/2010

I'm in the US and as several people have pointed out we are guaranteed 12 weeks of unpaid leave by FMLA. Luckily I work for a company that has a pretty good mat leave policy (for the US) and get 8 weeks paid leave and could possibly get and additional 3 months of unpaid leave after FMLA runs out if I wanted. We can't really afford that right now and my husband is stay at home so I am taking just the 8 weeks paid and it is flying by. I think I may cry when it is time to go back :(
I hate that the US has such cruddy policy when it comes to maternity leave. If the government wants to reform something about our healthcare it should be that.

Rachael - posted on 03/24/2010

a year??!! wow! must be nice! im in the united states navy, and we only get 6 weeks. 8(

Faizah - posted on 03/24/2010

wish can get a YEAR too! we get 60 days in Malaysia

Brittany - posted on 03/24/2010

I wasn't working when I had my son but I was still in school. The school year started back up 2 weeks after I had my son and my doctor gave me the OK to go back. It was awful.

Jo - posted on 03/24/2010

Like Dana I'm in Australia, and being private sector, got 12 months unpaid leave.

DS took a long time to get here, so was able to save my "wage" - or enough to cover "my" bills and living expenses - for the year off.

I am crying on the inside for the women who's legislation only gives them 6 weeks. I just can't wrap my head around it. How lucky we are here that our sisters in the 70's fought so hard for the legistaion protection I now enjoy..

DH had mostly self-funded 18 months off some years ago, so there was lots of precedents in our family for me NOT to do his washing/ironing/etc as he didn't do mine when he wasn't working!!!

Because of how long I had worked for my employer, I was able to take some Long Service Leave at the end of my Mat leave - and was able to take it at half pay which was again just enough to cover the essentials. So I had 15 months off in total, and was lucky that took me to the start of the child care year in January.

DS was born when the Baby Bonus was lump sum - almost half went on medical bills when I had breast feeding disasters just after he was born [that's another story] and we draw down on the rest for things like the car seat.

Dana - posted on 03/24/2010

I'm in Australia, and I got 1 year unpaid leave. We are guaranteed our job back after 52 weeks by law, even though I've heard of cases where employers have made the return to work so difficult for women so they decided not to come back.
I think those working in government departments get 12 weeks paid, and some employers have a paid maternity leave scheme (to attract workers). I work for an engineering company in a very male dominated field, and attracting women isn't really their priority, so I got nothing.
We do get a $5000 baby bonus from the government, which is now paid over 6 months in fortnightly instalments. We get this per baby regardless of whether we were employed or not, but it is now means tested and high income earners don't get it anymore.
There has been talk of paid maternity leave for years here, but I won't hold my breath for it to happen. So my husband and I have our "maternity leave fund", where we save money that beocmes my part of the income during my maternity leave. Works well, but if we hadn't had to do it, we probably would have been able to try to conceive sooner and not have had fertility issues.
I've heard a saying that you can tell a lot about a society by how they much they value their children. Doesn't say much for ours when you consider that many women are forced back to work sooner than they are ready and have to leave their babies in care and probably stop breastfeeding. Putting a roof over our head and food on the table requires 2 incomes in this country.

MICHELLE - posted on 03/24/2010

I'm from the UK and we can take 12 months if we want it. My employer luckily pays us for the first 4 months maternity leave at full pay, then the next 5 months are at SMP and then the last 3 are unpaid. I'm taking the full year and due back mid-May and I feel like crying at the thought of leaving my little lady!

Sarah - posted on 03/24/2010

I'm in Ontario Canada and I am taking the full 52 weeks our government offers us. I always knew that I wanted to be a stay at home mom but didn't know how I could replace my income to pay my bills. I found this GREAT work from home opportunity that is paying my bills and it has also helped me transform our house to all natural products...my son deserves to grow up in a chemical free household. Msg me to find out how you can do it too!!

Carol - posted on 03/24/2010

I am in Canada. I get a year. It depends on your job and hours how much you get. I am from Costa Rica and over there I think it is only 4 months.

Tricia - posted on 03/24/2010

A year?!?! WOW!!! By law, we can take up to 12 weeks (USA) without fear of losing our jobs. I live in West Virginia and work in Pennsylvania. Since my baby was born via c-section, I received 8 weeks of short term disability insurance payments, and the rest of the time was without pay. I did get approval from management to take a little longer off - I had about 14 weeks off, I believe. It definitely went by too quick!!!

Danielle - posted on 03/24/2010

I got 6 weeks maternity leave, not getting paid. I wish I could have gotten paid for 6 months and had a year or even 2 year leave. That would have been amazing. Oh and I live in Minnesota

Christina - posted on 03/24/2010

From Ontario Canada... get a 1yr paid mat leave... The year is gone by way to quick. I was suppose to start back Feb 28 but unfortunately I am not able to work so I was able to take another 15wks paid sick leave so I don't have to go back untill june. I really hope these last few months don't fly by like the rest of the year! I feel so bad for the moms that don't get to spedn time with their new borns, I could not imagine having someone else care for my baby at that age I would hate the feeling that I could be missing all my babies firsts I have been so luck that I haven't missed one yet. My question is who looks after these 2wks and older babies I think our daycares go from 6mths earliest on.