Is it legal for a business or insurance company not to pay a women for maternity leave during the 6 weeks off?

Question

Is it legal for a business or insurance company not to pay a women for maternity leave during the 6 weeks off?

Answer 1

Different employers offer different benefits. Health insurance isn't the only benefit, but also Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Maternity Leave, etc. You may want to check into whether or not the company offers short term disability and what the qualifications are. My company doesn't offer maternity leave, but I was paid through a short term disability claim. My last company didn't offer maternity leave or short term disability rather you could roll your sick time year after year so you could accumulate enough time to get full pay while off.

It is perfectly legal. Businesses are not required to provide paid maternity leave. But you are also protected by FMLA. Which would be unpaid unfortunately. But at least you'd have a job to come back to.

Answer 2

Employers aren't required to offer paid maternity leave.

Some employers have short term disability coverage as part of their benefit plan, and sometimes maternity leave can be covered under that.  But even then, it would be rare for the policy to cover 100% of your normal pay.  Most only give you a percentage of your pay.  For example, my employer's plan would cover 65% of the employee's normal pay.  (Only if the employee was eligible for the leave, of course.)

But offering a plan like that is an *option* for an employer.  They aren't required to do so.

Answer 3

Yes.  Very, very few employers give you paid time off for six weeks, for maternity.  I've had three pregnancies, and no one has EVER given - or offered - paid time off, or even short term disability that covers maternity leave.

Answer 4

It may vary by state, but to my knowledge the only thing required is to grant unpaid leave.  Employers are not obligated to pay you for having a baby.

Answer 5

As far as I know the only thing they are legally required to do is hold your job.  They don't have to pay you.

Answer 6

they dont have to pay you or hold your job if there is less than 50 full time employees.