Question to HR Managers about Maternity Leave

Question

I work for a global company. In London the employees are allowed to take 6 months to a year off for maternity leave and some men get paternity leave. I am in the US and we have a small office and I am the only woman because my department separated from a larger company. Now I can't even qualify for a FMLA act now because we are now less than 50 people. Also, my time off would be 6-8 weeks I think because I am in the US. Is there any way I can ask them to be fair when the rest of the company is in London and the women there get so much more time off? What are the general rules for maternity leave in global companies - is maternity leave different in each subsidiary? Or is it the same for the whole company?

Answer 1

you need to discuss this with your employer, it seems you are already aware of the legal answer. policy decisions on leave paid or unpaid and if those policies are fair can only be answered by the employer.

if the employer is this large they should have a knowledgeable and experienced HR department that should be able to answer any policy question for you. the opinions of anyone not associated with the employer are in fact meaningless, regardless of if we think it is fair to you or not. good luck with the pregnancy and forthcoming birth.

Answer 2

Ok. This is simple enough. First of all since the company has other operations even if not in the US those employees are still included. Secondly, in the US you would be entitled to exactly 12 weeks of leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. No more and no less.  As for London those are their laws not ours.  Can you negotiate for more time off?  Of course!  Will you get it?  I can't answer that.

Answer 3

Maternity leave is typically based on the local laws and requirements. We have global offices around the world and from my office here we oversea offices in the US and Canada only. Overseas they have different time off for maternity based on the laws of the country where the office is located. Even in Canada they have different time off from those of us in the US offices. Global companies can not have just one set of rules as each country has different laws that they have to abide by.

Depending on your doctors advice you would be out anywhere from 6 - 10 weeks post delivery, depends on the recovery and when your doctor releases you to return to work. This leave is unpaid unless your company offers some kind of plan for you. There are a few states with state disability plans that will pay benefits during this time off. A few states have also put plans in place for time off with different requirements to qualify for them. You would need to check your state laws for any family leave programs/time off they may have passed.

Honestly, I don't know of any US based companies that offer as much time off as those located in Europe or Canada. (In Canada they can take off almost a year after the birth with job protection when they return)

Answer 4

I do believe that the time off they are required is 12 weeks.  Now paid or not that is the decision of the company.  I know when I had my daughter last year and was working outside of the home, I had 6 weeks paid vacation from our insurance company.  I know I could have taken 12 weeks off, but only would have been paid for the 6 because that is what my company offers.  I then used my extra vacation days so I could be home 8.  

Hope this makes sense!!!

Good Luck and congrats!!!!

Jessie

http://www.IamHome365.com