I used to telework 1-2 days a week. Our new SES director came in from the private sector and completely abolished teleworking under any circumstances. We also can only work 8-4:30, no other times or schedules are permitted (HR backs this new rule up).

Something that's really sh!tty is that when I fill out my timecard weekly I have to explain why I was telework eligible but didn't telework. D'oh!

I've seen how coworkers with temporary disabilities and medical issues are treated. I would hate to be a new mom in this office, especially when my female boss believe pregnancy is "preventable" and only a "family issue." Federal government rocks!

Anonymous wrote:I still can't believe - in this day and age - there are companies/agencies that don't allow ANY telecommuting. That's just insane. I feel very fortunate to work for a very telework friendly agency. I'm way overdue for a promotion but part of the reason I've stayed put is because I'm afraid other agencies aren't so family friendly.

PP here....this, and I can't believe the gov't has so many conflicting policies. The government has a "everyone must be allowed to telecommute policy" except when no one is allowed. WTF?

I could do my job from home probably better than at my desk. Oh well.

I got 8 months paid, plus 4 months telework.

Tip: work for a company headquartered outside the US

I still can't believe - in this day and age - there are companies/agencies that don't allow ANY telecommuting. That's just insane. I feel very fortunate to work for a very telework friendly agency. I'm way overdue for a promotion but part of the reason I've stayed put is because I'm afraid other agencies aren't so family friendly.

did office policy change or is it your manager?
have you brought this up to HR that it disproportionally hurts certain people?
that's insane.

NO ONE here can telecommute, but other people in the building can with ease. I can't imagine having done it well when being screwed over like that.

Do you have a union? Get involved with FEW (federally employed women) as well, they might have resources to help you.

I ride in a carpool shuttle to work (I work in a non metro accessible area). We used to be able to telework after doctors appointments, but now we can't so doctors appointments have become very difficult and cumbersome.

I teleworked successfully for years, so it sucks that when it's my turn to have a baby that management has gotten really strict. Not to go out on a tangent, but I've had coworkers have to take months of LWOP when they had medical issues that didn't allow them to physically come to work and because work didn't allow telework.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed and it's not even standardized here. I have friends who have been able to work out amazing telework, flexible scheduling and take 6 months of paid maternity leave.

I on the other hand can't use sick leave for any more than my first 6 weeks and must take an entire day of annual leave for every single appointment (after the one hour of sick leave for the actual appointment). Also, my agency won't allow my husband to transfer leave to my maternity leave, whereas most other agencies allow this.

Agree that this is f'ing ridiculous.

I have over 400 hrs of sick leave, but am limited to how much I can use for maternity leave. I have colleagues one floor up who have teleworked for 2 months after their first 12 weeks were up. I can't telework. The fact that the feds do not have a blanket policy is embarrassment.

As for the "entire day of sick leave for an hour at the doctor", that's ridiculous. Are you out all day? If you're in the office for 5 hours, you get paid for 5 hours. If you're made to take 8 hours of leave even though you're there, I'd file a formal complaint. Or have I misunderstood the situation?

I'm a fed and it's not even standardized here. I have friends who have been able to work out amazing telework, flexible scheduling and take 6 months of paid maternity leave.

I on the other hand can't use sick leave for any more than my first 6 weeks and must take an entire day of annual leave for every single appointment (after the one hour of sick leave for the actual appointment). Also, my agency won't allow my husband to transfer leave to my maternity leave, whereas most other agencies allow this.

that would be an amazing data base to have! I would certainly use it. I am job hunting and would love to know ahead of time what the company policy is!

I'm afraid that there isn't anything like that, at least to my knowledge. In fact even information on FMLA mandated by the Feds can get very confusing when combined with a company's own policies and paperwork.

Companies with more than 50 employees are subject to the FMLA law meaning you are entitled to 3 months of leave where you can return to your job without penalty, and where you are covered under your typical healthcare benefits. However, FMLA does NOT mandate that a company pay you for that leave. Some companies will provide X amount of paid leave and this varies WIDELY. One could pay 60% salary for 6 weeks, 80% for 2 weeks, 75% for 10 weeks and on and on. Some will give you 0% salary but perhaps the freedom to extend the time you're out (ie 4 mos instead of just 3). Some companies will force you to exhaust your sick and vacation before getting paid for maternity leave.

Ultimately it's only information you're likely to get if you ask about company benefits when you have an offer or are in an interview.

Soapbox: this country has one of the absolute worst maternity leave policies in the entire world, not just the industrialized world. We are on a short list of countries like Lesotho and Swaziland who do not have any kind of structured paid leave entitled to parents.

does anything like this exist? not all company websites list their specific policies, especially if it is a small company that maybe has not been recognized formally. anyone know of a resource to research what different companies offer? if it doesn't exist, someone should create it.