What to tell work Pt. 2

Well, I've changed my mind about my maternity leave. I was planning on offering to take 6 weeks off, but allow e-mails the last 2 weeks as an effort to be more of a team player, as suggested by my peer reviews. However, the more I've thought about it, I've realized that that's not really what I want. My family comes first, and this is the first six weeks of a brand new member to that family, and that's important. On top of that, in all likelihood, Jon and I could be packing and moving those weeks, in which case, that will not be the time to try to fit in a little work on the side. A friend of mine, whom I respect very much and who is a new mom in the marketing world, pointed out that my peer reviews and my maternity leave are two separate entities. I need to do my best while I'm at work to be that team player, but they cannot make judgments based on my request for 6 weeks leave. So, I've taken that to heart, and presented my request to my boss last week. He was fine with it!

You'd think the plan would consist of "I'll be out 6 weeks. See ya when I get back," but really, that would be too simple! Here is my plan:

• I will work up until the day of delivery unless medically necessary to leave earlier.
• My last day to come into the home office will be Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.
• I will notify work upon checking into the hospital.
• I will take a full 6 weeks off of work.
• At the end of 6 weeks, I will do one of the following (in order of likelihood):

1. I will start back to work on a full-time basis;
2. If I deem it necessary, I will return to work 2-3 days a week, using the new year's PTO to make up the difference until I am able to resume a 5-day/week schedule.
3. If medically necessary, I will take more time unpaid.

• I will contact work every two weeks of my leave to keep them apprised of my current situation and future plans, per FMLA requirements.
• I have approximately 20 days PTO, leaving the remainder of the 6 weeks unpaid

My due date is Nov. 21, 2008. If I deliver on that day, here is how my maternity leave would go:

Leave starting Friday, Nov. 21
Return January 5, 2009
Days paid: 20
Days unpaid: 6
Holidays: 5
Total business days: 31

If I do not deliver on Nov. 21, I will notify work with the specifics of my leave within the first week of delivery.

Signed and dated.