Even though the United States is a developed country, we're still one of the few countries in the entire world that does not federally mandate paid maternity leave.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mandates that your employer must give you 12 weeks of unpaid leave. However, this is only if your employer is a covered employer, with regulations such as 50 or more employees, etc. Then, you must be an eligible employee.
Even if you and your company both fall under FMLA, they are still not required to pay you for the time you miss. Some companies do offer paid maternity leave. Others allow employees to accrue sick leave and vacation time. But occasionally, you’re out of luck.
Don’t despair, there is always the option of short-term disability (with the daunting acronym STD). STDs may be offered by both your state and company, or you can purchase a policy through an insurance provider. It generally covers half to two-thirds of your salary, and lasts for 6 weeks. So, just for fun, call up Wanda in HR and ask if she can give you an STD.
Unfortunately, they don’t make it easy here in the U S of A, where most families can’t even get by on one salary, to take time off to have a baby. Shame on us.
But women everywhere are making it work, and you can, too.
And while you’re contemplating your time away from work, shoot an angry letter to your representatives and tell them how much this sucks.
