Use short term disability or just max out my PTO?

[Anonymous]

I'm a fed with no paid leave (baby is due too soon to qualify for the new leave program that goes into effect in october). I have enough annual and sick leave to take off through the end of the year, but I will have maybe like 3 days left when I go back. Alternatively I could take 6 weeks of short term disability and save 6 weeks of my annual leave. STD is paid at 60%. I'd be on unpaid leave status so I'd have to pay back my healthcare premium for those 6 weeks and forego my retirement contributions and match. Is it worth it to do that just to save the 6 weeks of leave? What would you do in this situation?

[Anonymous]

Is there a third option where you go back before the end of the year but have a little more cushion? You'll need days off available for when baby/you are sick especially if little one will be starting daycare.

[Anonymous]

You’re a fed with STD? I thoughts feds were ineligible.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you do have paid leave. I am confused by the “I have no paid leave” and l have months worth of paid leave”. Can you explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you do have paid leave. I am confused by the “I have no paid leave” and l have months worth of paid leave”. Can you explain?

Sorry, no paid leave specifically for maternity leave. I have paid annual leave and sick leave that I can use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a third option where you go back before the end of the year but have a little more cushion? You'll need days off available for when baby/you are sick especially if little one will be starting daycare.

Yes, this is an option. I was targeting about 4 months off but I could go back sooner. I worry that I won’t feel ready after a shorter leave, but I don’t know for sure if that’s true. I’d be interested how other women felt about going back after less than 4 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a third option where you go back before the end of the year but have a little more cushion? You'll need days off available for when baby/you are sick especially if little one will be starting daycare.

Yes, this is an option. I was targeting about 4 months off but I could go back sooner. I worry that I won’t feel ready after a shorter leave, but I don’t know for sure if that’s true. I’d be interested how other women felt about going back after less than 4 months.

Come on, like 99% of the country goes back after less than 4 months... FMLA only protects you for 12 weeks, regardless of the type of leave you’re taking. Better hope you aren’t too replaceable if you ask to take more than that.

[Anonymous]

Speaking as someone who exhausted her leave and had no coverage for sick days after returning to work, make sure you leave yourself a cushion, especially in this age of covid. You’ll need it, especially if you are using daycare.

[Anonymous]

Big law and tech are known for 6 months plus. Getting more than 12 weeks is super privileged for sure, but I get why OP would want more time to bond.

OP - I just had my baby and I’m leaving about 2 weeks of paid leave in my bank just in case. I get the 12 weeks FMLA. I figure I’ll want to take a few days at Christmas and then a week off in Q1’21.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on whether you have a spouse who can take leave if the baby is sick and whether you are prone to illness yourself (I very rarely get sick, for example). Also depends on whether you can afford the 60%/paying health premiums and how fast your leave accrues when you go back. Personally I would probably gamble and use the leave on the theory that saving leave I may or may not need isn’t worth the guaranteed loss of pay by taking STD.

[Anonymous]

I’m a fed who paid separately for STD (which in retrospect was a waste of money since it took me forever to get pregnant so what I’ve paid for the policy far outweighs my benefit. Oh well) and here’s what I’m doing. I got paid out for 6 weeks, used a bunch of my sick leave and a bunch of annual leave, leaving about a week left of each for after I go back. For the remainder of my 6 months off, I’m taking LWOP (not I won’t accrue additional annual and sick leave for those weeks). I did not invoke FMLA as my boss was ok with me taking LWOP.

[Anonymous]

How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Definitely save some leave for DC sick days. Getting sent home with a fever means you’re out for at least 24 hours, but usually 2+ days to wait for fever to clear. In the first year, I was out 1-2 weeks due to unexplained fevers, and one double ear infection that wouldn’t die.

I returned to work after 12 weeks, and was worried it was too soon, since they’re still very much in that newborn phase, but I’m kind of glad we started when we did, because it helped break a lot of habits that we were starting to settle into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?