I have come to accept that the United States does not give women paid maternity leave (or men paternity leave). Sadly, we are one of the few countries in the whole world not offering paid maternity leave. I am saving up my vacation and sick days so I can bring home a pay check while I am on my six-week maternity leave this summer. I accept all these things.
One thing I cannot accept is that my OB/GYN is charging me $25 for them to fill out the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) paperwork that states I am pregnant and will need maternity leave. I understand my HR office needs proper documentation of my "condition." I understand that someone at my OB/GYN office had to work on filling out that form and faxing it back to my HR department. Really, all they had to do was look up my due date, enter standard information and stamp it with the doctor's signature. I am sure filling out the form took less than 20 minutes (and that is if it took 10 minutes a page which again I am sure it didn't). I am paying over a dollar a minute for this form so I can leave work, give birth to a baby and not get paid. I am outraged.
For my first pregnancy, I was not covered by FMLA because I was not with the company for more than 12 months, so I am pretty shocked over this. I don't remember anything like this. I am not planning on taking any more time off from work with FMLA than without. I just don't get it. I am glad FMLA exists, but why should it cost me?
Am I crazy? Is this a standard form thing I have just forgotten about in the past 5 years? Is this something I should just write a check for and not think about again? I guess I will have to do that , but I am very upset over the whole deal. Thoughts?
One thing I cannot accept is that my OB/GYN is charging me $25 for them to fill out the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) paperwork that states I am pregnant and will need maternity leave. I understand my HR office needs proper documentation of my "condition." I understand that someone at my OB/GYN office had to work on filling out that form and faxing it back to my HR department. Really, all they had to do was look up my due date, enter standard information and stamp it with the doctor's signature. I am sure filling out the form took less than 20 minutes (and that is if it took 10 minutes a page which again I am sure it didn't). I am paying over a dollar a minute for this form so I can leave work, give birth to a baby and not get paid. I am outraged.
For my first pregnancy, I was not covered by FMLA because I was not with the company for more than 12 months, so I am pretty shocked over this. I don't remember anything like this. I am not planning on taking any more time off from work with FMLA than without. I just don't get it. I am glad FMLA exists, but why should it cost me?
Am I crazy? Is this a standard form thing I have just forgotten about in the past 5 years? Is this something I should just write a check for and not think about again? I guess I will have to do that , but I am very upset over the whole deal. Thoughts?
What? You don't get paid maternity leave? I thought for sure you would get paid maternity leave because you are full time. This whole thing is ridiculous. It is punishing women for being women, and it's not okay. I do not think you are overreacting. You are right to be outraged.
ReplyDelete