Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here, but dealing with the same (or similar) issue! Would it make a difference to you all if the job you were applying for was a government job? I'm at a cushy private sector job where I would get about 6 mo leave, and hoping to jump ship to a government post. And also, incidentally, I'd been planning to start TTC for #2 about now (before a few other job opportunities cropped up). I suppose I need to do more research on government maternity leave. If I go to a private firm, I hope I'd have more ability to negotiate a full maternity leave, but I doubt I'd be able to do that at the government (and they are less generous with family leave in the first place). What do you all think?

If you are talking about federal government, there is no such thing as "maternity leave."

If you can stick with your job long enough to take your paid leave, I would (and did) do that.

I know, that was my plan! But then I got an interview at a dream job. I know I'm being silly--I haven't been offered the job, nor am I pregnant. But on the one hand, I think, if you keep putting off getting pregnant b/c you are interviewing, and don't get the job, that could go on forever. On the other hand, what if I get the job and am faced with taking the job, telling the bosses i'm 2 minutes pregnant, and basically having to squat out a baby and get back to work (I'm exaggerating, I hope...)

Anonymous wrote:NP here, but dealing with the same (or similar) issue! Would it make a difference to you all if the job you were applying for was a government job? I'm at a cushy private sector job where I would get about 6 mo leave, and hoping to jump ship to a government post. And also, incidentally, I'd been planning to start TTC for #2 about now (before a few other job opportunities cropped up). I suppose I need to do more research on government maternity leave. If I go to a private firm, I hope I'd have more ability to negotiate a full maternity leave, but I doubt I'd be able to do that at the government (and they are less generous with family leave in the first place). What do you all think?

If you are talking about federal government, there is no such thing as "maternity leave."

If you can stick with your job long enough to take your paid leave, I would (and did) do that.

NP here, but dealing with the same (or similar) issue! Would it make a difference to you all if the job you were applying for was a government job? I'm at a cushy private sector job where I would get about 6 mo leave, and hoping to jump ship to a government post. And also, incidentally, I'd been planning to start TTC for #2 about now (before a few other job opportunities cropped up). I suppose I need to do more research on government maternity leave. If I go to a private firm, I hope I'd have more ability to negotiate a full maternity leave, but I doubt I'd be able to do that at the government (and they are less generous with family leave in the first place). What do you all think?

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, I think you are overthinking this. As somebody who has unexpectedly struggled with infertility, I can tell you that it's not wise to plan your life around TTC because not everything goes as planned. If you want to leave your job and find an acceptable offer elsewhere, then do it. If you are happy in your job and think you can handle staying another 2-3 years, then stay! Even if you conceived tomorrow and accepted the job, then divulged about 3 months later that you're pregnant, I can tell you that most employers are going to work with you regarding maternity leave even if you aren't guaranteed FMLA. It's cheaper for them to offer you unpaid leave for a few mos vs. open source your position again. Unexpected things happen to people all the time - we hired a guy who, a month in, found out he had cancer and was out for the next 6mos on chemo. Life happens and so does pregnancy. Make the career move that is going to make you happiest in the long run.

+1. You can only plan so much. Live your life and go with whatever job will make you the happiest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Update - I'm not taking the job. I reviewed the benefits and they are much worse than at my current job. I would be paying an additional $400 a month in health insurance for similar coverage and I would love 9 days paid leave this year and then in 2018, it would go up to 12 days a year I would be losing as opposed to my current position. Unless they offer me the highest salary I requested, I won't even break even with my current salary! That doesn't even include the lost paid leave. Bummed but I'm glad I asked for their specific benefits and went over all of that!!

Hey OP, sorry the new job didn't work out. However maybe this can be a lesson...not to worry so much about the future until it gets here? Now go and make a baby

True!! My supervisor is now MUCH more open for me trying out a new program, various trainings and is going to be giving more increased responsibilities since he knows one of my goals is to become supervisor. I'm the lead contender since my co-worker wants none of that and the other isn't appropriate for it. I was also notified that my dream job is going to be listed in the next few weeks and I work very closely with the staff and the current employee who's is a great resource! I'm actually moving in a great direction!

Baby: We are working on that I don't know if I can't today as cd 15 or 18. My period came 3 days late due to being on vacation and I experienced quite a bit of spotting those first 3 days but no full-on period. I sometimes notice that my period WILL stop if I'm under a lot of stress or physical activity for a day or two and then start back up for another couple of days. No hard science here but I experienced what I believe to be ovulation pain Sunday night-Monday. I had a very vivid dream last night which is right on track for either cd 15 or 18 with my first pregnancy as I had tons of very vivid dreams during the two week wait. I also have been having mild cramping on the right side for several days....are these signs?? IDK! I'm getting pretty excited though!!

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Update - I'm not taking the job. I reviewed the benefits and they are much worse than at my current job. I would be paying an additional $400 a month in health insurance for similar coverage and I would love 9 days paid leave this year and then in 2018, it would go up to 12 days a year I would be losing as opposed to my current position. Unless they offer me the highest salary I requested, I won't even break even with my current salary! That doesn't even include the lost paid leave. Bummed but I'm glad I asked for their specific benefits and went over all of that!!

Hey OP, sorry the new job didn't work out. However maybe this can be a lesson...not to worry so much about the future until it gets here? Now go and make a baby

OP here: Update - I'm not taking the job. I reviewed the benefits and they are much worse than at my current job. I would be paying an additional $400 a month in health insurance for similar coverage and I would love 9 days paid leave this year and then in 2018, it would go up to 12 days a year I would be losing as opposed to my current position. Unless they offer me the highest salary I requested, I won't even break even with my current salary! That doesn't even include the lost paid leave. Bummed but I'm glad I asked for their specific benefits and went over all of that!!

oP here again: I got offered the job!! The supervisor called and let me know they are offering me the job but are waiting to get the background check back (child welfare-foster care). It would be minimum a 2% raise but I want to angle for more than that...we'll see. It will open up doors for me so that is a benefit unto itself! ?

Anonymous wrote:Did you get the job OP?

OP here- I am still waiting to hear back! I checked in with all my references and they've called and gotten in touch with every last one. My supervisor thinks I will be offered the job. Another professional reference thinks I will be offered the job soon but they were playing phone tag until this morning! It's just a waiting game! I'm staying busy ttc and also with work, and my toddler!! I was so anxious over the weekend with it all that I deep-cleaned my entire house!!

Did you get the job OP?