so stressed out about maternity leave

I need to vent! I am due in December and I am stressing about my leave. I am a NYC teacher and I am negative (lots) of days. I don't even have any to borrow. I assume I will have to take my weeks unpaid. Unfortunately, lots of stuff came up (including IVF meds) and wiped us out. I don't have the money to cover all my bills for the weeks that I will be off. I don't even know what to do! It has been making me cry and I get so worried. Anyone else need to take unpaid time?

Message edited 9/20/2011 6:01:47 PM.

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

You can get firm answers at DOE maternity workshop which is VERY helpful. Do you contribute to your TDA? if so you can take a loan out against yourself if you are really strapped for the cash for those weeks REALLY worse case I would inquire about a pension loan

ETA: You are entitled to 6 weeks but if you do not have sick days or days to borrow I am pretty sure it will be unpaid.

Message edited 9/20/2011 6:11:27 PM.

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

Not a teacher, but mine's unpaid. I am currently working 3 jobs (1 F/T, 2 P/T) to cover the time off.

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

Not a teacher wither but mine will probably be unpaid also. I am going to enjoy my time off though!!

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I am not a teacher either but my maternity leave is unpaid as well. We do get the NYS disability and I have been trying to save to cover expenses while I am out

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I was a teacher in NYC for 5 years. I have since become a SAHM. I had my daughter in my 2nd year teaching there. I did not accumulate days by the time I had my daughter in October of my 2nd year in order to have them cover my maternity leave.

What I did do was borrow days, and then every paycheck after that I paid back 2 days. So each of my paychecks after I returned to work, they deducted two days worth to pay back against those borrowed days. It is better then missing out on pay alltogether and you get used to your pay being 2 days less after a few payroll periods. You jsut adjust accordingly.

Speak with your payroll secretary about this. She can get you the paperwork and help you set it up. You can start paying back some of the days that you already borrowed NOW so that you aren't negative so many by the time December comes around.

Also keep in mind that you don't have to worry about vacation time. So Winter Break will be "free" for you and no days will be deducted for them.

I wish we lived in a country where paid maternity leave was widescale. Very few companies offer it and especially not for teachers. I hope you get it all worked out!

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I am not a teacher but also stressing out on what i will do while i am out with the baby... i get disability, but that money will not even put a dent into my bills

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I'm not a teacher and I think mine is unpaid. apply for STD its only $40 a day but its better then nothing. DH and I have been trying to save $$ aside since I became pregnant but things have come up for us too. You will figure out a way

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I'm not a teacher but I'm super stressed about maternity leave as well. It's unpaid but I can apply for short term disability. UGHHH i really didn't think it was entirely unpaid

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I am not a teacher and work F/T. M-F I have my 2 yr old DD in daycare 3 days per wk b/c DH is off Tue and Wed. I had recent back surgery in Feb and March and we used our taxes to survive as I was home for 3 months or so. Well we unexpectedly are pregnant and I am due in May.....we are planning to use our taxes for me to stay home with the NY State disability ($170 / wk) and whatever time I get paid, maybe 2 wks.....then we are so strapped for daycare for 2 kids 3 days a wk we are going to borrow $ from my husbands 401k in order to pay for daycare with that every month until the next yr of taxes to use for daycare. We will only have 2 yrs of both kids in daycare together until DD is in KG but I know it is VERY stressful!!!! Just know it all works out.

Re: so stressed out about maternity leave

I am a nyc teacher expecting triplets soon!! You should call the welfare fund, you can get the number off the uft website. You can borrow 20 days. The you go off payroll for a month. Then you can apply (request form from welfare fund) for maternity disability. It's $350 per week, not bad. They pay for 8 weeks. Call them, they are very nice and knowledgeable.

In Europe they get 3 full months, too bad they dont place such a huge emphasis on mother / baby here in the US

good luck!! I would also call payroll!! sometimes the school secretaries dont really know the accurate info.