I started a new job and after 2 months, went out on mat leave. Company was super supportive through the offer process, on-boarding and my leave but given my limited tenure, I felt as though I...

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Take the time - all of it! You won’t regret a few more months off work, but you’ll surely regret missing out on that time with your baby... Also, you’ll be setting a great precedent for more junior employees who may feel insecure about taking mat leave.

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I think everyone should use the leave time how/when makes them feel most comfortable. Here’s where I have personally seen an issue, if one woman takes only 10 weeks then those of us in the same company that want the full 12 are perceived as “not as dedicated.” Wish that wasn’t the case but I’ve seen it. Woman was recognized (and applauded) in a meeting a few years ago for answering emails through her labor. That is not ok in my book nor should other moms be expected to do that, sets a bad precedent.

I know that was a little bit in a tangent. Be open and honest with your boss. They have been supportive thus far, what is the worst that can happen...

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Do we work together?

I was on calls with my closest colleagues and wrapping up emails while in labor in the hospital. I went in earlier than expected and didn’t want to have to deal with it after the baby came.

Certainly didn’t think I deserve recognition for that (and didn’t get any... my boss and coworkers made fun of me for it in a good natured way), but it let me fully mentally and electronically unplug and focus once the baby arrived.

So... just a reminder to be kind to one another. It’s a different experience for everyone. What works for one doesn’t work for all.

@ACD 2 Absolutely agree. Also, whoever emailed her needs to learn a thing or two about boundaries...

I took a full year off (I live in Europe, granted, so it’s very different here), and it was never even up for discussion.

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Senior Strategy Director 1 I highly doubt we worked together, the woman I was referencing was not in strategy. And what I witnessed wasn’t teasing it was recognition and applauding that behavior like I said in my post. I also said people should use their time however they feel comfortable. But just pointed out that unfortunately we are judged by the precedent that others set, even if that is wrong, it happens. Not sure how that was unkind but apologies if it came off that way.

What WAS unkind, in my personal opinion, was all my co workers getting paid maternity except me. Having HR screw up my paperwork so I couldn’t file disability when my child was born. Other coworkers getting recognition for working during labor while I got my promotion taken away from me and given to my temporary male replacement who was a friend of my boss. Getting crap projects when I returned because I was “a mother now.” Being denied a review and a raise because I was off giving birth. Everything is relative.

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And just so you know, HR and payroll have screwed up every woman I knows maternity leave paperwork in some way... whether it’s not getting the STD check, being underpaid on leave, not being paid upon return, not accruing vacation upon return, mis-capturing a birth date that prevents insurance paperwork from going through for the hospital stay... and I think we have great parental leave. It’s unacceptable that someone who is tending to a tiny human has to also check their paystubs or vacation totals to this level of detail, but for whatever reason it seems to be the norm

..shouldn’t take all the time at once. So I have 3 weeks still left and don’t know how to broach the topic with my male supervisor. I realize it’s my time & a benefit that I’m foolish to not take in full but still feel as though it will diminish perceptions of me as I try to establish myself more in the company.

Please take the time. They are managing without you, and can continue to do so while you finish your leave. You were only there 2 months before, you were barely established! Look at it like you are starting fresh when you go back from leave. Please don’t sacrifice this precious time with your child to head back to an office that will not appreciate what you’ve given up

I should clarify, I took 10 weeks and have already returned. Trying to figure out how best to take the rest before it “expires"

Take it when you can! You’ll never get it back and never regret spending that time with your LO or taking the time for yourself. You need it

If I were you I would take it sooner rather than later. For two reasons. 1. Baby is more dependent now that he will be at 10 months old.
And 2. You need the sleep more now than later. Their sleep normalizes around 6months and you feel a lot better the older they get and the longer chunks of sleep they take.

I had a Co worker that did 4 day weeks until he ran out of paternity leave and that worked out well for him.

I did this with about 20 days of maternity leave time and it was fabulous

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