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How to Plan a Maternity Leave?
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Along with the stresses of pregnancy and planning for your baby’s arrival, you will have to think about how you’ll handle your career that you love so much. The biggest factor is to understand who will be able to take on your responsibilities.
As maternity leave is that period, when you might have to take off some time from work followed by the birth of the baby. All you need to do is look at your employee handbook and speak to your human resource on how your company approaches maternity leave. Usually, many companies would ask you to take vacation or sick paid leave towards maternity leave.
Why Should You Develop a Plan?
Before you’re taking this leave, you’re planning properly so that nothing goes wrong, while you’re away from work. However, one of the main reasons behind planning for a maternity leave is that you or your family do not have to face any unexpected financial glitches during this time. Just remember, planning your leave is a way to show that you're not just committed to your colleagues, but also to your family.
When Should You Take Your Maternity Leave?
Some of you might prefer to take a time off like a week to a month, before your baby’s arrival. However, there are some of you, who prefer to wait till the last hour, to take maternity leave. But, whenever you plan, send the employer a 30-days’ notice before you intend to take a maternity leave.
Do You Know Your Rights On Your Maternity Leave?
Since you’re planning your maternity leave, mostly to take care of you and your baby, before your baby’s arrival, it is very important for you to understand your rights. For instance, if you have worked for a company for more than a year, the company worming Act allows you to take at least 12 weeks of leave. But these 12 weeks would be unpaid leave, which you’d require to take care of your baby, after birth. Basically, these laws are valid for those companies, which have at least 50 employees. However, smaller companies may have very different expectations.
Moreover, it is important for you to remember that laws pertaining to maternity may vary from one state to another. Therefore, no sooner than you discover that you’re pregnant, try to look for state laws and your company guidelines, for taking maternity leave.
Can Your Boss Fire You For Your Pregnancy?
Well! The answer would be “no”. In recent years, workplace laws and attitudes towards working women have improved greatly, and it is always prudent for working women to understand their rights when it comes to pregnancy and the workplace. The Maternity Benefit Act prohibits employers from terminating a worker's contract or job due to pregnancy.
What Benefits Will You Get While You Are on Leave for Pregnancy?
Usually, employees on maternity leave are entitled to be paid. So are you. While on maternity leave, employees are entitled to pay. Your maternity compensation gets calculated at the average daily earnings over a three-month period immediately before your leave begins.
How Will You Get Maternity Insurance If You Might Need One?
The cost of childbirth is high if you choose a private healthcare provider. In general, maternity coverage covers hospitalization costs, prenatal and postnatal expenses during delivery, as well as coverage for the newborn for the first 30 days. Maternity insurance policies generally have waiting periods of 2 to 4 years, and some extend up to 6 years.
Why Is Maternity Leave Important?
It is important for you to take maternity leave. After all, becoming a mother is one of the biggest decisions of your life. Your baby's health and well-being while brewing inside you adds to your mental and physical health.
To Conclude
Speaking legally, India ranks better, when it comes to maternity leave durations. Records of some private sectors may be sad, knowing about your maternity leave properly is your right.
Did you plan your maternity leave yet?
Happy pregnancy to you!
Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops contents on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare and stem cell banking and umbilical cord lining and more.