accepting gov't job while pregnant/maternity leave eligibility

[Anonymous]

I am 3 1/2 months pregnant and have been offered a job at a gov't agency. I really want to take this job as I have been unemployed for a while and it is an awesome job. We decided to try for a baby because I wasn't finding anything out there, and as luck would have it now I have been made an offer. Though it is conditional on a background check, my question is when do I disclose I am pregnant. At the time of the interview we hadn't even told our inlaws as we were just before 2nd trimester.

If I do take this job what will maternity leave look like as I will only be there for 4 months or so before needing a break for baby? Can they take my job away once I leave?

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

You don't qualify for FMLA until you've worked there for a year, so yes, they could let you go for taking maternity leave. You also wouldn't have much paid leave, as the feds are notoriously stingy on maternity leave, and 4 months isn't a lot of time to accrue paid leave. However, if they really want you, they may be willing to try and hold your job for you--doesn't hurt to ask. After all, if they don't you're no worse off than you are now.

You should disclose after you have an offer in writing, but before you formally accept. You could make your acceptance conditional on approval of X weeks of leave (likely unpaid).

[Anonymous]

Agree to wait until you have an offer in writing. I can't imagine you'd have any trouble getting 6 or 8 weeks (depending on vaginal or c-section). You'll have to use whatever leave you've accrued, plus they might let you take advanced sick leave. The rest would be unpaid. Any more than that would totally be at the discretion of your manager. I would take the job. I'm sure they'll work with you.

[Anonymous]

I would talk to them about it before you accept. You will accrue 4 hours of annual leave plus 4 hours of sick leave per pay period. So that's basically 2 days of sick and 2 days of annual leave a month, so you'd probably be able to take close to 2 weeks paid leave when you are out on maternity. They will probably let you just go leave without pay for the rest. Although they could technically let you go, this is the government, and if you let them know ahead of time, they probably won't.

[Anonymous]

Feds don't get any maternity leave. You have to use annual and/or sick leave, or unpaid leave. I second the pp advice. There is no way they can offer you paid leave, but they will probably allow unpaid leave.

[Anonymous]

Giv. employee here. I suggest you wait until you receive your offer. You may not me eligible for the 12 weeks unpaid eave under FMLA, but I am sure they will give you some advance leave(borrowing from next year). I can not imagine they let you go just because you gave birth!!! advanced leaves are paid, but you have to then be aware that you will not accumulate leave for a while after you o back to work until. It is doable and from what I see in govt. supervisors/managers are generally very understanding when it comes to child birth.Good luck.

[Anonymous]

pp here, sorry that is Governmont Employee in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

govt employee here and I showed up to work 7 months pregnant. I took 12 weeks leave. Some unpaid and some paid using donated leave. I just told them once I accepted. The HR lady sighed. I asked if that was a problem.. she said no because they would have to go before MSPB if they rejected me on that basis. That said, you better work like crazy when you get there and get back to build up a good reputation for yourself

[Anonymous]

I heard of a program where you can request the donation of sick leave from other employees, not sure how often people donate it but I know its an option once you join.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the union at your work has some sort of bargaining agreement that stipulates that employees with less than 1 year still 12 weeks of leave (at least unpaid leave) - which would only apply if you are sure to join the union of course. I would definitely meet with a union rep and they will probably have the skinny for you as I am sure they have dealt with this many times before.

[Anonymous]

You should accept the offer and then talk to HR, the union reps, and your manager, as pp's have suggested.

[Anonymous]

FYI, depending on type of clearance you are seeking it can take 6 months or longer if you have traveled or lived abroad. There is no maternity leave for federal employees. It is sick leave, annual leave or unpaid.

[Anonymous]

Only tell them after you accept the offer. They then have to take you. As others stated, you will have little in the way of leave accrued and you might be able to advance, take unpaid, etc. Agencies are pretty kind about it.

Definitely work your butt off when you get there.

[Anonymous]

OPM said I had to accept verbally before they drew up my written offer, so you may hasve to do so as well. I agree with all PPs on Federal policy. Persnally, I would have told my supervisor-to-be at the time I told him I was accepting had I been pregnant and past my first trimester at the time. It's true that it would be illegal for them to revoke the job offer upon learning that you're pregnant as pregnant women are a protected class.

But I don't think you need to go out of your way with OPM (unless that's where you're working, of course). Showing courtesy to your supervisor will probably help you in the long run' though. Fed hiring is such a long process, I'd be really surprised if they replaced you while you were on leave.

Also, FYI, the pre-employment screen will likely only take a few weeks regardless of your travel history. Actually getting a clearance can take months or even years depending on your history. I guess there a some Fed jobs that won't let you start without a clearance in hand, my experience has been that's less common than the private sector though.

[Anonymous]

I am a Federal Employee. I started working as one 15 years ago and 7 months pregnant with my daughter. You can take an advance on Sick Leave for 240 hours based on childbirth. It takes a long time to build it back up (4 hours/ pay period). Also, it seems a lot of the interpretation of the rules is up to the agency and your direct supervisor. You might be able to take some leave without pay as well. I am currently pregnant again and taking 6 months off with a combo of 240 Advanced sick leave, 80 hours of accured sick leave, 100 hours of Annual leave and 480 Leave without pay under the FMLA.

The 20:06 poster who said they could let you go for taking maternity leave, I don't think they know what they are talking about.

I would not disclose that you are pregnant yet unless you really want to. At the very least you can take the advance 240 hours of sick leave. You don't need to have a minimum amount of time in for that.