slug SLUG as they grow PREGNANCY
Managing Maternity Leave
Arranging for time off to care for your newborn can seem as daunting as going
through labor itself. We’ll show you how to do it worry-free. By MArIA youNg
No matter how exciting pregnancy may be, preparing for your infant’s arrival—particularly scheduling your weeks off work after giving birth—can be stressful,
especially when you’re fully committed to your job. Though
an estimated 2. 4 million American workers will give birth this
year, the vast majority won’t receive paid maternity leave
(for example, just 8 percent of private-sector workers get this
benefit). Parents must depend on a confusing patchwork
of laws and company policies to determine just how much
time off they can get post-baby, whether it will be paid, and
how long their job will remain protected—if at all. It’s enough
to make any levelheaded employee run screaming from
her cubicle faster than you can say “epidural.”
What’s the best thing for a newly pregnant woman to do?
Before you start showing or announce the
big news to your friends at work, sit down
with your partner and figure out what you
ideally want and exactly what you’re en-
titled to. Then develop a plan of action
that works for both of you.
Learn Your Rights
Familiarize yourself with the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) at www.dol.gov/whd/fmla. A federal law enacted in
1993, the FMLA protects parents’ jobs—without pay—for up
to 12 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child. However, in
order to be eligible, you must be employed by a company with
at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius, and you must
have worked there roughly 25 hours a week for at least a year.
Next, connect with your regional office of the Women’s
Bureau at www.dol.gov/wb to find out whether your state
has parental-leave laws that go beyond the FMLA. Some
states mandate a longer period of leave, extend the FMLA
benefits to workers who aren’t covered by the act, or even
require that certain employers provide paid leave.
Though an estimated 2. 4 million American
workers will give birth this year, the vast
majority won’t receive paid maternity leave.
SHANNON GREER. STYLING BY KIM FIELD.
180 August 2010 Parents
