maternity leave

According to the EEOC, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, pregnant
employees or potential employees cannot be treated unfavorably because
of the pregnancy.

Many women wonder if working up until their due date is safe for their health and the health of their unborn child. The answer is not the same for all pregnant women, because all pregnancies are different.

Women have a wealth of support when it comes to maternity leave and
FMLA. Local, regional, state and federal departments are set-up to
protect women during pregnancy from employer discrimination and
retaliation.

The federal and state governments protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace. If you are pregnant and seeking maternity leave under FMLA, you have rights as long as you follow the proper procedures for requesting maternity leave.

If your income is financially relevant, think through your post pregnancy plan carefully. Many mothers want to stay home with their baby for the first year, but not all mothers are in a financial situation that allows such a prolonged maternity leave and disability payments will not continue for one year.

Adoption is a fantastic option for parents unable or unwilling to conceive children of their own. State laws and employer policies differ from one state to the next. In some cases, parents receive pay from work during many parts of the adoption process.

FMLA allows for 12 weeks of maternity leave. This 12 week timeframe does not include sick, vacation and personal time, in most cases. While employer policies will differ, most employers allow various forms of paid leave before unpaid maternity leave begins. 

One of the biggest decisions for a working mother is when to return to work after their baby is born. Some mothers have their minds made up, whether for personal or financial reasons, to return to work just 6 weeks after the baby is born.

Paternity leave is similar to maternity leave, but there are no short term disability options available for fathers who want to take time off for the birth of a child. According to the FMLA, fathers are allowed to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave.

When you do decide to reveal your pregnancy to your employer, you need to make a list of important contacts within the company and your personal prenatal care to ensure you know whom to contact when the pregnancy nears the due date.