Job offer while pregnant

[Anonymous]

I have a tentative offer for an attorney position at a federal government agency. I currently work in house at a private company. The only problem is that I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant. I had interviewed with the office maybe a month before I got pregnant but the position got cancelled and something new just opened up. They didn't know I was pregnant when they called me and obviously I told them. They
do want me to start as soon as I pass my background check and said they can see if they can work something regarding my maternity leave. However they have no idea what my options would be since the FMLA wouldn't apply. Does any idea what I should be asking for and what options are out there? I know there is something called medical leave which is for six weeks and then there is advanced leave and leave without pay. I was planning to taking 3 months of maternity leave at my current job and I'm not sure if that's even an option now. Any help and advice you can give me would be great. I am very happy but also really stressed out since this is my first baby and I thought I would be able to spend three months at home adjusting.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for 12 weeks and I'd assume easily that they'd give it to you. Your maternity leave would be probably 100% unpaid. You might be able to save a week of leave before your maternity leave starts. My agency only does advanced leave like this: you can only advance what you'd get for the rest of the year. So if you have your baby in October, you could only get a few days of advance leave since it's closer to 12/31.

[Anonymous]

First, I would really REALLY try to take the full three months. First babies are a big adjustment, and especially if you plan on breast feeding, I think you'll really want that time. After three months there's a good chance you won't be fully physically recovered (not sore or anything, but just not feeling like yourself, still quite a bit of extra weight, etc.) but even moreso, you'll likely still be quite sleep deprived. That (other than leaving the baby) is probably the toughest part about going back to work.

You may be able to take leave without pay. That seems to vary a lot within the government by agency. I'm not sure if you can afford that, but my guess is that LWOP is your only option, since the government has limited options in terms of what they can offer employees. You could also maybe work out a teleworking arrangement for a few months, but I wouldn't give up my three months for that. Teleworking still means working; it just saves you the commute and time getting yourself ready.

I know that Fed pay is often pretty formulaic, but you might also see if you can get an increase in salary or a signing bonus if you have to take LWOP. I did that in the private sector, but again, I know working for the Feds is different. That said, when I was a Fed, the salary options were sometimes flexible, although sometimes they weren't.

[Anonymous]

OP I don't know how in demand you are, but we've had people negotiate sign on bonuses of annual leave or a higher rate of accruing leave (6 hours a payperiod vs the 4 hours you'd get).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your responses. I'm at the beginning of my career so not high demand unfortunately. I interned with one of the attorney's there while she was in a different agency so I come highly recommended but that's really it.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to you OP! I am in the same situation -- moving to a fed agency while pregnant. Talk with your supervisors about it, but I think you should be able to anticipate having 12 weeks off. You may be able to take a little bit of that as advanced sick leave or advanced vacation. Also try to get creditable service for your private sector experience that will give you 4 weeks of vacation a year rather than just 2. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Have an open discussion about it and negotiate something before you start the job. And, get it in writing.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who started at State 9 months pregnant and she was able to take 3 months off. Considering you were very upfront with them, just ask. It's obvious that they want you.

Good luck and congrats!