Need advice about what to tell work....long..sorry!

melgul001

Basically...what am I obligated to tell work? Over the past month they have constantly been on my butt about "What are your plans post baby".

I REALLY have no idea. That is what I continue to tell them but they don't like that answer. 

Am I really obligated to choose now? My position is not "rare" per say. When I work, there are 8 other people doing the exactly same thing as me. I wouldnt have to job train if I didnt go back etc. 

I just graduated with my bachelors and I have been open with them since I started my bachelors that my plan was career advancement. Most people go on and get a higher degree for career advancement. There is currently no movement within my dept or facility for me, so I'm seeking outside of my current place.

So long story short.....I am only obligated to give my 2 weeks notice correct? I don't want them to give me a bad reference (Which I don't think they would if called). I know there is someone that wants my full time position if I leave but don't think its fair to want to know my plans to already replace me. I'm covered by FMLA while on maternity so they can't just get rid of me that way. 

Guess I'm confused, stressed, and upset that I'm being pushed to want to make a decision. 

I will need a job post baby no matter what whether go back to my current or new. 

I have a meeting with them tomorrow at 2pm (I have had 2 already and I have told them over and over again that I really don't know my plan). 

 Sorry its so long....I just feel backed into a corner a bit. 

 

TIA!

 

Ashnkris

Honestly, I would let them know you plan to take 6 to 12 weeks of maternity (or whatever mat leave you want).  Do they know you are looking for a new job?  If not, I'm guessing they are just wanting to know how long you'll be gone for mat leave to schedule accordingly.  If they do know you are looking, let them know you're taking your mat leave and at this point you are planning to return after.  If you are hired during your leave, give them as much notice as possible.  (You wouldn't have to train so I wouldn't feel bad if you gave notice on leave.)  It's not like you are bound to your decision right now.You have no obligation to say anything specific except how much mat leave you are taking, and even then you can decide one day to come back early or at 8 weeks say you want more since you have FMLA. Are your plans to remain with this company post baby until you find a new job?  Then tell them that.  Good luck, decisions like this and stress do not mix well with preg. hormones!

luvjon

Here is how the situation works.  If you decide to move on after maternity leave and do not return back to work, they are not obligated to pay you for your maternity leave.  So if you plan to find another job post baby, you would want to plan to come back to work, THEN put in your 2 weeks notice.  If you are not planning on returning and don't care about getting maternity leave paid, then it doesn't matter, I know lots of people who have decided late into their maternity leave that they want to stay at home (not typically go to another job because maternity leave is not paid then).  I think your best bet is to tell them how long you plan to take off for maternity leave, even if you think it's only going to be 8, 10 or whatever weeks, tell them the max, you can always come back early I think.  I would not accept another job until you've returned to work post-baby so your FMLA benefits are not compromised.  The rule is definitely 2 weeks, but you cannot give 2 weeks notice while on FMLA and not return and expect the paid maternity benefits to still be paid.

Haven1

luvjon:

Here is how the situation works.  If you decide to move on after maternity leave and do not return back to work, they are not obligated to pay you for your maternity leave.  So if you plan to find another job post baby, you would want to plan to come back to work, THEN put in your 2 weeks notice.  If you are not planning on returning and don't care about getting maternity leave paid, then it doesn't matter, I know lots of people who have decided late into their maternity leave that they want to stay at home (not typically go to another job because maternity leave is not paid then).  I think your best bet is to tell them how long you plan to take off for maternity leave, even if you think it's only going to be 8, 10 or whatever weeks, tell them the max, you can always come back early I think.  I would not accept another job until you've returned to work post-baby so your FMLA benefits are not compromised.  The rule is definitely 2 weeks, but you cannot give 2 weeks notice while on FMLA and not return and expect the paid maternity benefits to still be paid.

Exactly. At 33 weeks pregnant, it's not unreasonable for them to want to know what you're doing at all. Maybe you don't know the exact day you're coming back, but you have to give them a yes/no. If you're not coming back, they need to fill the position immediately. If you are coming back, they need to divide your responsibilities to cover your absence.  Twelve weeks is a very long time to go without an employee.

As far as looking for a new job, that shouldn't be part of the conversation with them. "Yeah, if I don't find a better job, I guess I'll be back here." Totally unprofessional.   

NebraskaBride06

I guess I'm confused... do they know you're looking for a new job? I assume you're not friends with anyone you work with on facebook since you've been opening posting about your resume, etc?? I'm with the other girls -- give them an estimated timeframe of how many weeks you plan to be gone for maternity leave. If you give them any idea that you're planning on not coming back --- why would they wait to replace you? You should be acting as if you'll be taking maternity leave then returning to work as usual. Especially if you haven't even found a replacement job --- you have to be careful of that --- or you could be out of a job entirely. 

Amy&Andy

I would tell them you are taking X # of weeks off and plan to return there and then look for another job maybe a month or so after you go back to work. The last thing I would have wanted to do right after my maternity leave is start a new job. Learning how to be a working mom is really hard and stressful at first and adding a new job to that might be extra hard on you. And you would also be covering your asss that way as well like the girls said.

OxAMYxO

If I were you I'd say this:  "I plan on coming back to work full time after my xx week maternity leave."

And leave it at that.  They dont need to know if you're going to be looking for a job, because looking doesnt guarantee that you'll find anything. 

You're over thinking this.

LindsaymR

OxAMYxO:

If I were you I'd say this:  "I plan on coming back to work full time after my xx week maternity leave."

And leave it at that.  They dont need to know if you're going to be looking for a job, because looking doesnt guarantee that you'll find anything. 

You're over thinking this.

This is what I was thinking. Since you don't have another job lined up then don't tell them you plan to quit. When I was job hunting it took me a few months before I found my job and sometimes even interviews take a couple weeks.

njh514

OxAMYxO:

If I were you I'd say this:  "I plan on coming back to work full time after my xx week maternity leave."

And leave it at that.  They dont need to know if you're going to be looking for a job, because looking doesnt guarantee that you'll find anything. 

You're over thinking this.

Exactly. 

melgul001

They know I'm looking to advance my career. I plan on taking 6-8 weeks off depending on how things go. I get no maternity benefits as I just have to use my vacation time to get paid. I have no benefits through them, all through my husband.

The reason being that they know I want to advance my career is I have chatted with them long ago about potential spots, or a growing dept etc.My current schedule is really not going to work long post baby and there are no day shift jobs opening and nothing really on the horizon.  My DH currently is in a position he can't go to days.

I know new jobs/interviews can take months. I'm starting to apply now etc. 

I guess what I was looking for was just what was my obligation.....I didn't think I had to make a decision now. My plan is 6-8 weeks then come back to my current position unless something else opens up etc. I will be nice and give 2 weeks notice as I don't want to burn bridges. I think I have fared pretty well within the department and  don't want to upset anyone. My night supervisor is totally on board with me, its my day supervisor and manager.I would enjoy going back some day in a managment position (only a few certain ones) so I would want to keep my options open. I'm also not planning on quitting all together. I am going to go PRN (as needed) so I can keep my license too.

Our dept is going through some tough times right now with 2 out on FMLA and 1 abusing intermittant FMLA and with some medicare changes we had to downsize. I know they are worried for their department. I go on maternity leave soon and so does another gal at the end of March. 

cracky!

It's great you feel a lot of loyalty to your place of employment, but listen, you have NO obligation to tell them anything.  Telling them anything different than, "My plan is to come back to work after 6-8 weeks leave" could be detrimental.  Never, ever give your job any hints that you might leave. 

Keep it simple and remember it's simply business, baby.