What would you do - maternity leave or bust?
I (32F) work for the federal government and have been for almost a decade. I have a well-paying position, but my role is very niche, and I don’t see a lot of upward movement. Even more so, I feel like my very niche role is losing its purpose in the agency I work for, and I’m less and less excited about going to work. Mentally, I can feel it’s starting to take a toll on me. Essentially, I was hired through a special initiative – and now that initiative is not so special anymore.
Like many moms, I ask myself often if it’s all even worth it. Except – it is because at the very least, we need my income. We can’t afford for me to stay home.
I have a toddler (2F) and am 14 weeks pregnant with our second – who was very much planned. What was not planned was how my purpose at work would dwindle away.
I’ve been doing some light job searching and recently found a position I think would be a great fit. It’s a slight decrease in pay and a big pivot in what I’d do, but I’m excited about its prospects. Except – I’m pregnant and I don’t think its even worth my time to apply. Now, it’s not physically being pregnant that’s the problem. The problem is that if I did get it, I wouldn’t qualify for FMLA as I wouldn’t have worked 12 months prior in the position. What I would get is 12 days of leave – based on the company’s policy – for context, it’s our local school district. Under federal service, I’d get a standard 12 weeks. How do I give that up? Except there’s a caveat – accepting 12 weeks of leave in federal service means you agree to work the 12 weeks following your leave or pay it back.
So, apply for new positions and accept a substantially less amount of maternity leave and a “good luck” from a new employer, or keep slowly dying from corporate paralysis for at least another year, but get 3 months with your newborn? What would you do?
I also want to say I very much acknowledge my position and how fortunate I am. I have a job I don’t have to leave and one that offers me maternity leave. So many parents, moms and dads, don’t have this luxury and it breaks my heart that mothers are out there going back to work in diapers because they’re still bleeding. Or that employers don’t value the time parents need to bond with their newborn and adjust to a new life. We need sweeping change for parents. Our children our everyone’s future!