Discovering a New Aspect of Getting Pregnant: Maternity Leaves
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Planning for pregnancy includes various many things. The basic things such as the do’s and don’ts, ovulation, cycle, intercourse etc. are planned by every couple. But another important thing is many times missed by the would-be parents. These are the maternity leaves and the work plan before and after the birth of the baby.
Maternity leaves: Maternity leaves are the time period for which the expecting mother takes off from office and work for her delivery. Often these paid leaves are also referred as Parental leaves may span for about six weeks depending upon the company which you work in. As per the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) the employees can take job protected 12 weeks off from their work for birth and even adoption. This rule does not hold well on workers working in smaller companies. Often your entitlement of leaves depend on the state in which you are living.
Short-term disability: Another tern which you would have often heard about is Short-term disability work. This is a provision by which you can cover your salary or a portion; during the period in which you were not able to work may be due to illness, baby birth etc. If the state in which you live provides STD, you can pay a little amount from your paycheck (each) so as to cover your share. They may cover upto 2/3rds of the salary. Some people also go for private STD insurance wither thorough the employer or some provider.
A question which comes is the mind is that do we need to pay income tax on the disability income too? Well, it depends on who is paying the premiums for your coverage. The taxable portion of your salary is what you receive from your employer’s coverage. You need not to pay income tax from your checks and consequently, you will get money in April. After the baby’s birth, you will be able to take an additional deduction for the new dependant.
Unpaid leaves: In the U.S., you are eligible for the unpaid leaves if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a federal, state or local government employee or an employee of a company that has 50+ employees working in seventy five miles of your office.
- You must have worked with the employee for a minimum of 12 months or for a min of 1250 hrs in the previous year.
When you are out on leave, as per the FMLA norms, your company continues your benefits for health insurance plans.
Right time to start the leaves:
There is no such defined time when you should take off from office as this depends on the physical condition of the would-be mother. Often women start the leave in seventh or eighth month of pregnancy. Some women have complications and so they may be recommended a bed rest and leaves in that case may differ.
Related posts:
- Get Pregnant at Right Age
- Planning for the Next Baby
- Prepregnancy Checklist
- Understanding the Fertility Basics before Getting Pregnant
- Steps for Quick Conception
- Deciding for Conceiving after a Miscarriage
- Essential Points When You are Trying to Conceive
- Romance is the Key for Baby-Making
- Chill, Take a Break…from Trying to Conceive
- Keep yourself calm and composed in early days of Conception
Filed Under: Getting Pregnant
