taking time off for baby

[clarkfan1979]

My wife and I are taking a 4.5 month break from work to accommodate for the new baby. Six weeks before the baby is due and 3 months after the baby is due.

Our first baby is due May 19th. Because I'm a college prof, I normally get 3 months off May 12 - August 15th. However, I'm also going to take the last 6 weeks of the spring semester off (March 24 - May 11) as part of family leave. I have 6 weeks of sick leave saved up, so I still get my full paychecks. My wife is currently substitute teaching.

[bigalsmith101]

This is awesome! It's definitely something to be proud of to be able to swing 4.5 months off work. Though, as I see it, you're really only taking 6 weeks off from your normal work schedule.

What's the driving factor leading you to take off 6 weeks prior to the due date? It would seem to me (though I have no children), that 2 weeks off before the baby would be enough?

Is your wife working up until 6 weeks prior as well?

Well done!

[clarkfan1979]

This is awesome! It's definitely something to be proud of to be able to swing 4.5 months off work. Though, as I see it, you're really only taking 6 weeks off from your normal work schedule.

What's the driving factor leading you to take off 6 weeks prior to the due date? It would seem to me (though I have no children), that 2 weeks off before the baby would be enough?

Is your wife working up until 6 weeks prior as well?

Well done!

Yes, my wife is planning on working up until 6 weeks before the due date. She will also have the entire summer off as a substitute teacher.

I have to give my employer at least one month notice for family leave when appropriate. If I took family leave for only two weeks before the due date and the baby came 3 weeks earlier, I would be stuck working that week. The statistics of an early born baby starts to get very unlikely when talking about more than 6 weeks. To be safe, 6 weeks is what we decided. 

Worst case scenario the baby doesn't come early and I get to enjoy some really good snowboarding during late March, April & early May.

[Ricksun]

Don't get me wrong, I love the fact you plan on taking off beforehand, and 3 months is awesome after baby is born, but most sick leave policies don't let you use sick leave for this purpose.  I'd check your works policies.  You're typically allowed to use sick leave for 6 weeks afterwards to care for your wife due to her incapacitation, which most doctors say is 6 weeks.  Some liberal policies allow for use of sick leave for bonding purposes with the child.  This seems more like a babymoon vacation, unless you're planning on triplets or something that would be causing bed rest for the preceding 6 weeks.  Regardless, good luck with the kid!!

[okobrien]

Congratulations, and way to go prioritizing family over the job!

Six weeks before sounds way early, but being that your real plan is to get in 30-40 days of solid snowboarding before the baby, I think the plan is genius.

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[clarkfan1979]

Don't get me wrong, I love the fact you plan on taking off beforehand, and 3 months is awesome after baby is born, but most sick leave policies don't let you use sick leave for this purpose.  I'd check your works policies.  You're typically allowed to use sick leave for 6 weeks afterwards to care for your wife due to her incapacitation, which most doctors say is 6 weeks.  Some liberal policies allow for use of sick leave for bonding purposes with the child.  This seems more like a babymoon vacation, unless you're planning on triplets or something that would be causing bed rest for the preceding 6 weeks.  Regardless, good luck with the kid!!

Working for a college/university is not typical. They have above average policies that favor work/family balance because the salaries are lower than "typical" corporate positions. I prefer more work/family balance than a higher salary. That is why I have chosen my current career path.

I get 4 months of family leave a year. However, if I want to get paid, I need to use my accrued sick leave. I accrue 3 weeks of sick leave a year.