Greetings all,

26 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 6,2023 at 7:16PM UTC

   Plenty of people do this. Experience? or Integrity question? You do you but it's a fair ask to allow your current employer to know you're not returning and leaving it at that. If they're paying your insurance while you're out you should get a bill to pay that back as well. It's not an unusual occurrence.

2. AnonymousDecember 6,2023 at 7:34PM UTC

   This is a common experience. I wish you luck.

3. AnonymousDecember 6,2023 at 10:51PM UTC

   Not uncommon at all. That said, what sort of benefits are you receiving from your employer? Do you have a separate paid parental/caregiver/maternity leave policy that you would qualify for? If so, are you planning to take advantage of it and what are the stipulations of using it? Do you already have something lined up? If not, when do you plan to start looking? What are your reasons for wanting to leave current employer? If you don't have a job already lined up, how long are you comfortable with not being employed?

4. AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 1:47AM UTC

   For your insurance benefits, you should resign after your leave. Check your employee handbook on the stipulations of medical leave and [and pay attention to any specific stipulations that are different regarding maternity leave]. Most of your benefits terminate with either your last paycheck, the last day of the month of your final day of work, or your last day to work. These should all be spelled out, including any restrictions or exceptions if you resign before returning to work. There is no harm in looking and interviewing while on leave, but to be safest, you may want to consider returning to work and immediately giving your two weeks' notice. If the reason you are leaving is that bad, you could give your two weeks' notice two weeks before you are scheduled to return unless you have to return to work to collect your leave PTO.

5. AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 2:14PM UTC

   Honestly speaking the company would dump this person in a second if they got the thought to do so. This is not a slavery situation and I think you work for the benefits then take them. If you leave a job you’re not doing anything they wouldn’t do to you on a dime. Don’t be nasty about it and demean someone that is trying to do the best for themselves.

6. Elizabeth WestDecember 7,2023 at 3:43PM UTC

   Agreed.

7. AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 2:16PM UTC

   She's seven months pregnant, not taking seven months of leave.

8. AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 3:42PM UTC

   Considering how bad health insurance is in this country, I don't blame this woman.

9. BellaDecember 7,2023 at 5:50PM UTC

   God absolutely forbid...if this woman died, her job would be posted before her obit was written. It works both ways.

10. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

    I'm on maternity leave now and do not plan to stay long after I return. I'm trying to find a new job now. I am the insurance provider for the family though so I have to keep working. After the way my company has treated me during my pregnancy and short-term disability leave I am putting myself first finally. I had to work to the week before I got induced though so if you get to go out early that is awesome. You are not going to want to even think about work while you are on leave. Spend every moment you have with your little one and make sure you take some time for yourself. The first few weeks are the hardest. And then the first two months. And then it gets easier after that.

11. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 1:49PM UTC

    We have legal rights. Otherwise many workplaces would treat women who have children ruthlessly.

    *There is no 7 months of mat leave.*. There is actually *no paid mat leave* for many women in the US. Worst amongst our peer countries. Short term disability is a couple weeks paid at 60%(?). And then FMLA for another few weeks is unpaid. Pregnancy, a normal human function, is considered a disability.

    Her colleagues will temporarily reassign her workload to other for a few weeks and then it will become permanent when she gives notice. Easy. FMLA exists in part so that we have the right to get the same or similar tasks when get back.

12. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 1:51PM UTC

    Stop rationalizing dishonesty..

13. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 1:54PM UTC

    It's very common, so some employers have rules where if you take paid parental leave, you need to come back for a certain period of time after that leave otherwise you have to pay them back. Before you go out on leave, make sure you're familiar with all the policy regarding your leave and any paid time away. Congrats on the baby and good luck in your job search!

14. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 2:31PM UTC

    I believe she's stating how many weeks along she is in her pregnancy. Slow your roll before you start bashing anyones intentions, especially when you assume to know all the details of said maternity leave. Ask questions before commenting, especially rude and belittling comments like you did.

15. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 4:08PM UTC

    I'm sorry you chose to feel this way and worse are trying to force your views on others. Benefits are part of your compensation. Therefore, you earned them. If it is something you rightfully earned, how can that be stealing?

16. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 4:31PM UTC

    I was laid off two-days after giving birth in May. Initially, HR cut me off from everything without realizing I already started my leave. They quickly realized this error when I tried to add my daughter to our insurance from the hospital. They told me it was a “glitch” in the system. They waited about a month before I was due to return to notify me of my work status. Long story short, these companies don’t care about you so they shouldn’t factor into what matters most — your family and your well-being. You don’t need to make a decision now but use your leave to determine what will be best for you. And, like a previous poster recommended, definitely check if there are any stipulations if you were to leave after returning. The job was there before you and it’ll be there after you but the time you get with your loved ones is limited. Enjoy your bundle and congratulations!

17. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 7:02PM UTC

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! :)

18. misskelleypDecember 8,2023 at 5:39PM UTC

    DEFINITELY do NOT tell your employer your plans until you have a solid job offer to replace this job.

19. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 7:02PM UTC

    Thank you to everyone who understood what I was saying and commented helpful things. I will definitely take time to think during my leave and make the best decision for me. Thanks again! :)

20. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 7:12PM UTC

    Done bitch about how companies treat employees when employees treat their employers like rest stop bathrooms. There are plenty of bad companies and plenty of good ones. Bottom line your own integrity should matter. And if it doesn’t that speak for itself. Not a guilt trip. A fact.

21. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 10:56PM UTC

    Congrats on the baby! Make sure you understand the family leave policy before you resign from the company. There is usually a doctor's note required to say that you have completed your FMLA leave and you are resuming normal work. This may be required with your new employer also.

22. AnonymousDecember 8,2023 at 11:28PM UTC

    I’ve been the person picking up the slack for an employee on maternity leave who didn’t plan on returning.
    For my troubles I got to do two jobs for the price of one. They just decided to keep me doing it for nothing. Had they known, they would’ve hired someone else right off the bat. This is really common - especially for women like me without children. We just have to quietly take it. It’s really unfair.

23. AnonymousDecember 9,2023 at 11:44AM UTC

    Sorry for any hate that was sent your way for this question, congrats on your little one!

    But also sorry for some of the other information that was shared with you. As someone who actually manages leaves of absence at my job, I disagree with the other poster who shared her experience (and sorry for her experience as it sounds like a bad one) that "these companies don't care about you," because that's not entirely true. Me and my team DO care about our employees who go on leave so there are people and companies out there who care. But sadly I know there's plenty others who don't. I get it.

    Anyway, like the others said, just make sure you understand your options and read your company policy. Plenty of moms don't return at the end of their leave, that's ok! Just let your boss and HR know that you won't be returning at the end of the leave(but honestly to protect yourself, you don't have to tell them right now. You can wait until after you have the baby and the leave is closer to ending) also, find out if you'll owe any benefit premiums back to the company. This is very common to not return from mat leave so don't fret, enjoy your little one, it's precious time that is over too fast! Congrats and best wishes :)

24. AnonymousDecember 9,2023 at 1:26PM UTC

    I don't know how common this feeling is first off. I did have some one when they were getting ready to start maternity say they were leaving. Since it was education setting and towards the end of the school year, I suggested FMLA (unpaid) through end of school and then she would be paid over summer through the end of her contract.

    That's probably wildly different. My suggestion is to be on same page as spouse or significant other and let your employer know you'd like to stay home with baby and move in different direction WHEN you are ready to go back.

    Congrats and good luck. (Sleep now)

25. AnonymousDecember 9,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

    It's common for people not to want to return after maternity leave....but it's usually they don't want to return to the workforce

26. AnonymousDecember 11,2023 at 2:15AM UTC

    I don't know what industry you are in, but this I have seen a lot of women litigators switch to jobs as in house counsel upon returning from maternity leave. It makes sense to be looking for a different work/life balance when you have had a major life change.