Anonymous wrote:Are all of you first time moms? Because you have very high expectations of what you will accomplish on maternity leave.

You might also underestimate how many of us don't wish to return to the jobs we currently have. IF it's a priority to find another job, you can make it happen.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm a federal employee so mat leave is saved sick and annual. And I'm past the sick leave stage. My concerns are 1.) starting new job with infant rather than easing back into routine 2.) possibly overreacting to budget concerns due to hormones and sleep deprivation 3.) finding childcare near new workplace 4.) abandoning my colleagues 5.) being found out and not getting a new job. I'm just generally anxious I guess.

I'm also a federal employee and did / am doing this (waiting on the offer now, probably won't hear back before I return from leave). I think the only bad thing about leaving during maternity leave is that it's a bit of a cliche, but hey, cliches develop for a reason.

Looking at your concerns:

#1 is important and I have the same concern, but you can only speculate what the new workload, flexibility, etc. will be. Maybe focus on support mechanisms (spouse, backup care, etc.) that will help you if the transition is tough?

#2 I'm not sure I understand: you'll be "last in" at the new job too. This one is a wash in my mind, unless you have concrete information about your department closing or something.

#3 is important, but you can develop a plan, get on lists, etc.

#4 is a non-issue, and I say that as someone who loves her colleagues. If you like them, you can see them on personal time. But you earned your leave, and if you don't plan to work there forever then this is not a bad time to depart -- after all, they're already getting by without you.

#5 is extremely unlikely. You can control their access to your boss, make them hold reference calls until you have a soft offer, etc. Do not be tempted to tell colleagues you are looking.

Good luck!

Are all of you first time moms? Because you have very high expectations of what you will accomplish on maternity leave.

OP here. I'm a federal employee so mat leave is saved sick and annual. And I'm past the sick leave stage. My concerns are 1.) starting new job with infant rather than easing back into routine 2.) possibly overreacting to budget concerns due to hormones and sleep deprivation 3.) finding childcare near new workplace 4.) abandoning my colleagues 5.) being found out and not getting a new job. I'm just generally anxious I guess.

Anonymous wrote:Be careful. As a federal employee on sick leave, you are exactly that. On SICK LEAVE. If you use your leave to go on interviews, you jeopardize that status and if you announce during your leave you obtained another position and it is discovered that you used sick leave to do so, you can be required to pay back sick leave and you can be removed from the federal service for abuse of sick leave, falsification of leave, or other charges.

I don't think most women who have just given birth are doing this 5 weeks post partum.
I plan on starting around week 6 to apply from home, then more aggressively the closer to I get to the end of my leave. And since you can only use 6 weeks of sick leave, the rest of my annual/unpaid leave...so it's really none of their business what I do, especially since I'm not using FMLA protected status.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done it? I don't necessarily want to transition with an infant, and I like my job, but I'm worried about my job prospects (new fed hire in agency where layoffs have been discussed).

Many women do this, usually are consultants moving to clients or people in bad work situations finally have time to do reacts, interviews, etc. Is more common than you think. Especially if the mat leave benefits suk, it's like the final straw.

Anonymous wrote:Be careful. As a federal employee on sick leave, you are exactly that. On SICK LEAVE. If you use your leave to go on interviews, you jeopardize that status and if you announce during your leave you obtained another position and it is discovered that you used sick leave to do so, you can be required to pay back sick leave and you can be removed from the federal service for abuse of sick leave, falsification of leave, or other charges.

I have never seen this happen and they would have a lot to try to prove.

Be careful. As a federal employee on sick leave, you are exactly that. On SICK LEAVE. If you use your leave to go on interviews, you jeopardize that status and if you announce during your leave you obtained another position and it is discovered that you used sick leave to do so, you can be required to pay back sick leave and you can be removed from the federal service for abuse of sick leave, falsification of leave, or other charges.

10:14 here. My mat leave was unpaid except for some sick/annual leave, but I think as long as you give your notice respectfully, and maybe give them more than 2-3 weeks since you can, then there is not much to be concerned about.

I plan on doing it - I'm really looking forward to it. I'd love to not return to this position and maternity leave gives me a little more freedom.
I don't have paid leave - I use annual/sick leave that I have earned. I have no obligations other than to tell them when/if I am returning.

not the OP but my one major concern is that I will be seen in a bad light for looking for a new job on paid maternity leave. Although my boss is crazy, he did say outright to me recently that I earned my paid leave. Basically I did almost a year's worth of work in 7 months. I think some people think that mat leave must be "paid back"...and by looking while on leave, i would be violating that.

How long have you been on maternity leave for? When are you scheduled to return? What is it you're concerned about, having new potential employers frown on your leaving your current company, or you having been out on maternity leave a certain amount of time?

I stayed home for 8 months. I intended to go back to my job that I maternity-left from, but alas we moved and I was forced to find a new job (loved my old job!). Even having been out 7-8 months by the time I was interviewing I had no trouble "justifying" this in interviews. In fact I wasn't even really asked about it specifically, but maybe that's because when I was asked the general question about my work history I went through my experience and said and I have been on maternity leave since April or something to that effect. They didn't even flinch.

If I may ask, are you getting paid mat leave by your current company and that is your hesitation/concern?

I am going to do it. My boss is crazy and although I love the job, I think his crazy-ness is killing the organization slowly. I don't want to be here to watch it go down.

Would love to hear some stories/tips.

i did. i got to the final round for a job while out on leave. i didn't tell them i was out on leave.

Has anyone done it? I don't necessarily want to transition with an infant, and I like my job, but I'm worried about my job prospects (new fed hire in agency where layoffs have been discussed).