I feel like such an idiot regarding short term disability

[hokiegirl82]

So I got my letter back from HR today approving my FMLA and Short Term Disability (STD) today, and I am pretty upset over it and feeling like the biggest idiot. I read our STD policy (which is somewhat vague), and talked to others in the office who have been on maternity leave recently, and I thought with STD your first 2 weeks out after birth were the qualifying period in which you use PTO, then you get 6 weeks paid for vaginal birth, or 8 weeks paid for C-section - so you would get a total of 8 weeks paid for vaginal birth using the 2 week qualifying period and then 6 weeks paid after that. So I was planning on getting 8 weeks 100% paid, and then the remaining 4 weeks of FMLA leave unpaid (I am planning on taking the full 12 weeks of FMLA leave).

I got the paperwork back today - my first 2 weeks are paid through PTO, then only 4 weeks are paid through STD, then the last 6 weeks are totally unpaid, so that's 2 weeks less pay than I was expecting. I called the HR director to confirm that this was correct, and she said it is - STD coverage of 6 weeks INCLUDES the 2 week qualifying period that you have to use your PTO, so you only get 4 weeks actual pay through STD.

This of course upset me and I had go to into an empty office and get my cry out about how much of an idiot I feel like - 2 weeks pay is a lot. I called H and he said it's ok because when we were working on the budget months ago we weren't sure if I'd have any accrued PTO to cover the first 2 weeks, so we actually assumed worse case scenario I would only be paid for 6 of the 12 weeks (through STD when I thought I would get a full 6 weeks paid STD not including the 2 weeks of PTO). So he said we had done the budget for best case scenario (8 weeks paid) and worse case scenario (6 weeks paid) and we're ok with both. I still feel awful about it, and feel so stupid for not confirming what the actual policy was months ago when I knew I would be going on maternity leave and wanted to take so much time off.

Lesson learned: confirm stuff instead of assuming, because assuming just makes me an ass.

[bowies]

Ah man, that stinks.

Our STD policy works the same way - and the only way I figured that out was by reading a separate FAQ section on our HR intranet. That was written in English vs. the legalese of the actual policy.

I spent a good chunk of time the other day trying to figure out what my future paychecks are going to look like. If we're out on FMLA we have to use any PTO we have banked, but since I still accrue while on PTO/STD, it's hard to figure out when I'm going to zero out. Plus I have to pay for benefits out of pocket during the unpaid time (I mail a check to HR), so it would be helpful to know when that unpaid time will start. Basically, this kid is not allowed to show up before July 4 because he'll ruin my rudimentary calculations.

Why does this shit have to be so complicated? A move to Canada is sounding better and better.

[linz]

I just talked to hr and ours is this same. She said its once my Dr releases me so I'm hoping he lets me go longer then 6/8 weeks. But if I go unpaid oh well. I'm taking my damn 12 weeks!

Sucky thing too is if I got bed rest that cuts into my fmla. So if I have 2 weeks bed rest then I would only have 10 weeks leave. I'm praying I dont get that.

[chickadee77]

At least you have STD? I have to use any accrued PTO and then I'm unpaid, with my portion of benefits coming OOP.

But it sucks that you were anticipating one thing and it ended up being different. I hate that, especially since I try so hard to plan everything that I possibly can, and I get upset when it feels like my planning is wasted.

[bernergirl]

Don't feel like an idiot! The way my benefits language in our employee handbook, it looks like 12 weeks of leave are paid via STD, so that's what I planned on. After reading another post here, I decided to double-check with our HR and found out that yep, same as yours (except we just have 1 week waiting period). So I'm going back at 6 or 8 weeks. It sucks horribly, but I'm the only one with income right now (BF is freelance, and could possibly close 2 huge deals this year... Or not. He's applying for FT jobs now but no bites yet), and while I do have savings that could cover, I don't want to dip into it for that. Plus October, which would be the last 4 weeks of my leave, is a 3-paycheck month. That's just too much money to leave on the table. Stupid horrid American system

[kermit]

It's all so confusing. I don't have STD but I have plenty of accrued PTO so I thought I'd be fine for 12 weeks. Except they're not letting me actually use my PTO. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do. They basically said if it was for anything else I would be able to use my sick time but because it's maternity leave, I can't. Seems a bit discriminatory.

[winemaker]

Same here. Our STD is new this year so when we signed up they really had no info on exact details. I have 26.5 days of PTO which is 5 weeks and a and a half . So I had to use all of that time before I could use STD. I'm planning on coming back full time after 9 weeks. Also my STD is 60% of our salary up to $600. They also take out benefits from that pay so I would not be getting much. In the end it just was not going to be worth it money wise unless I would have to be on bed rest. Since this was the first year offered they let us op out since we did not have plan details when we signed up.

[winemaker]

May 16, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5 kermit said:

It's all so confusing. I don't have STD but I have plenty of accrued PTO so I thought I'd be fine for 12 weeks. Except they're not letting me actually use my PTO. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do. They basically said if it was for anything else I would be able to use my sick time but because it's maternity leave, I can't. Seems a bit discriminatory.

What?!? This sounds so wrong, what is your PTO for then.

[pinotgrig]

hokiegirl82, I could have written this post earlier this week! I'm also "out" 2 weeks that I was expecting to get paid for which was a complete surprise. We're still going ahead with 12 weeks off, but I'm going to use an extra week of vaca and take more unpaid time off than originally planned.

Our system is waaaay too complicated. And it has a very "nickel and diming" feeling to it. :/

[aqualuv]

Aww! It's a common confusion so you shouldn't beat yourself up about it at all.

It works the same for me, I'll have to use the first two weeks as PTO and then I'll receive only 4 weeks of STD, unless I have a medical condition that needs to keep me out longer. It doesn't matter how I deliver. And to top it off, I won't qualify for FMLA so I'll have to come right back as soon as I'm released to return to work.

[linz]

Our handbook says STD covers up to 12 weeks. It's that funny line of "Butttttt if you have a baby, sorry you are back at 6 weeks" dumb. I think all Doctor's should let you stay home 12 weeks disability. Who wants their 6 week old baby at daycare? Sorry but I don't.

[kermit]

May 16, 2014 12:42:04 GMT -5 winemaker said:

May 16, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5 kermit said:

It's all so confusing. I don't have STD but I have plenty of accrued PTO so I thought I'd be fine for 12 weeks. Except they're not letting me actually use my PTO. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do. They basically said if it was for anything else I would be able to use my sick time but because it's maternity leave, I can't. Seems a bit discriminatory.

What?!? This sounds so wrong, what is your PTO for then.

Anything except maternity leave, apparently. I even said, "so I've been banking all this time for nothing?" They said yes. 

Personnel policies state that you can take five sick days in a row without needing a doctors note to come back, so I'm thinking about working Mondays and calling in sick the rest of the week for weeks 8-12. I don't want to, but I want to get paid and use the PTO that I've accrued. I just feel like I'll get in trouble, even though it isn't strictly against the rules.

[aqualuv]

May 16, 2014 12:48:50 GMT -5 linz said:

Our handbook says STD covers up to 12 weeks. It's that funny line of "Butttttt if you have a baby, sorry you are back at 6 weeks" dumb. I think all Doctor's should let you stay home 12 weeks disability. Who wants their 6 week old baby at daycare? Sorry but I don't.

I know, definitely not a ideal situation. Thank goodness I have family members near by so my kiddo will be in great hands when I go back at 6 weeks.

[thatgirl2478]

That's how my old STD policy worked too. 

First week: paid from sick time (if you had enough, vacation if you didn't)
2nd - 6th weeks: paid from STD (level of pay depended on your years of service)
7 - 8th weeks (if C-section): paid from STD (level of pay depended on your years of service)
9 - 12th weeks: unpaid - UNLESS you elect to use your remaining vacation time to get paid

It's rough to get surprised like that.

With my new job, I get no STD unless I buy into it.  I don't qualify as you have to work a year before you can use it... hired on in March, due in Oct - not a year.  I also don't qualify for FMLA so I'm SOL.

[jeaniebueller]

May 16, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5 kermit said:

It's all so confusing. I don't have STD but I have plenty of accrued PTO so I thought I'd be fine for 12 weeks. Except they're not letting me actually use my PTO. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do. They basically said if it was for anything else I would be able to use my sick time but because it's maternity leave, I can't. Seems a bit discriminatory.

If your doctor writes you a note excusing you from work for 6-8 weeks (which is what they do for STD to kick in), wouldn't that help to use your PTO? What they are telling you doesn't sound right. FMLA is just job protection. It shouldn't affect your ability to use your time. That sucks.

On a different note, with my job, they are forcing me to use the balance of my personal and vacation time to cover what STD won't. Sounds great, except with cold season, not looking forward to returning to work with zero personal days banked.

[MrsDarcy]

Don't feel bad. When I was pregnant with my son, my coworker and I were both pregnant, due about a month apart. We BOTH worked in HR and BOTH misinterpreted the STD policy. We BOTH found out, while on maternity leave that we would both be out about 4 weeks pay. Sucks, and I totally feel you.

[ringstrue]

It's not your fault. It's a freakin racket and complete BS that they make pg women go through it.

[hokiegirl82]

I talked to my office manager about the fact that I can't find written anywhere in our employee handbook what is actually covered under STD for pregnant women. There is a STD policy but it does not mention anything about maternity coverage. I told her I think this is something that needs to be added to our policy not for my sake but for the future pregnant women who work there (and there will be more, there are a lot of women there who will probably have children in the next few years). The manager said she would look into it and contact the head of HR about it next week. I showed our policy to the equity partner I work for and he agrees that it should be explicitly stated how much STD covers for pregnancy and the fact that the 6 weeks of coverage includes the 2 week qualifying period.

My friend at work who had a baby 3 years ago is going to try and find her STD paperwork approval to see what she got. She's pretty sure she was covered for the 6 weeks in addition to the 2 week qualifying period instead of just 4 weeks like I got. If that is the case I plan on asking when this changed over the last 3 years.

[kermit]

May 16, 2014 14:39:16 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

May 16, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5 kermit said:

It's all so confusing. I don't have STD but I have plenty of accrued PTO so I thought I'd be fine for 12 weeks. Except they're not letting me actually use my PTO. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do. They basically said if it was for anything else I would be able to use my sick time but because it's maternity leave, I can't. Seems a bit discriminatory.

If your doctor writes you a note excusing you from work for 6-8 weeks (which is what they do for STD to kick in), wouldn't that help to use your PTO? What they are telling you doesn't sound right. FMLA is just job protection. It shouldn't affect your ability to use your time. That sucks.

On a different note, with my job, they are forcing me to use the balance of my personal and vacation time to cover what STD won't. Sounds great, except with cold season, not looking forward to returning to work with zero personal days banked.

I can use my PTO to get paid for the first 6-8 weeks, it's just after that is unpaid, even though I have accrued time I could use. It even said in the letter they sent that accrued time would be used up, then you'd go unpaid. I pointed that out and they were like, oh yeah, we'll need to change that letter. I think they aren't accustomed to people going on mat leave who have as much sick time as I do.

[aqualuv]

May 16, 2014 15:41:28 GMT -5 hokiegirl82 said:

I talked to my office manager about the fact that I can't find written anywhere in our employee handbook what is actually covered under STD for pregnant women. There is a STD policy but it does not mention anything about maternity coverage. I told her I think this is something that needs to be added to our policy not for my sake but for the future pregnant women who work there (and there will be more, there are a lot of women there who will probably have children in the next few years). The manager said she would look into it and contact the head of HR about it next week. I showed our policy to the equity partner I work for and he agrees that it should be explicitly stated how much STD covers for pregnancy and the fact that the 6 weeks of coverage includes the 2 week qualifying period.

My friend at work who had a baby 3 years ago is going to try and find her STD paperwork approval to see what she got. She's pretty sure she was covered for the 6 weeks in addition to the 2 week qualifying period instead of just 4 weeks like I got. If that is the case I plan on asking when this changed over the last 3 years.

I had a employee get her doctor to put her out two weeks before her due date. Those two weeks she used PTO and then received 6 weeks of STD from the date she delivered her baby.

[sillygoosegirl]

:-(

The two week elimination period is basically a deductible. Not only are you expected to cover it, it counts against the total amount you get to claim. And yeah, it stinks. It makes a lot more sense if the thing you are out on STD for is something where you might get better at any time or might stay unable to work for months. You aren't going to--surprise!--not actually have given birth a few weeks into it.

[robinsbff]

At least you get to use some STD? We have to use up our sick leave before STD kicks in. By the time I go out I will have exactly six weeks of sick leave saved up. So unless I end up with a c section I don't get to take advantage of my STD policy at all.

[starfish79]

Ladies, google around and check in your area for maternity leave consultants. It's becoming a thing where you can pay a small fee upfront ($150 for me in this case) for a person who is expert in HR in your state or even an attorney to comb through your individual company's HR policies and interpret what you are owed in your benefits, taking state and federal law into account.

I am most definitely doing this, as I feel very cynical about my company's policy in particular and feel like all HR policies everywhere are about protecting the company and hoodwinking employees.

[FastHands]

May 16, 2014 12:48:50 GMT -5 linz said:

Our handbook says STD covers up to 12 weeks. It's that funny line of "Butttttt if you have a baby, sorry you are back at 6 weeks" dumb. I think all Doctor's should let you stay home 12 weeks disability. Who wants their 6 week old baby at daycare? Sorry but I don't.

STD is covering your medical disability, though, not your unwillingness to put a healthy child in daycare. At 6wks post vaginal birth (barring complications for you and baby), there's no reason you can't go back to work. And certainly no reason for a *doctor* to claim you as medically disabled.

Don't get me wrong, I wish we had more/better options for maternity leave, but STD isn't it.

[cowboyjoe]

Don't feel bad! Most policies are so confusing and difficult to understand.

I get 12 weeks of leave. The first 3 weeks are unpaid and I can use my banked sick time (only have 3 days) and any accrued PTO. For the remainder of leave they will pay me 60% of my pay. Luckily the baby is due in October so I will be able to use PTO to cover most of the unpaid time. People that are due in January get screwed at my company because they don't have accrued time yet.

The downfall is that DH works for the same company and it is in our policy that maternity/paternity leave is joint and we can only take a max of 12 weeks together. Which sucks because I had planned on him staying home the first couple weeks and using his banked sick time (9 days) for pay with a little of PTO time. Instead he will only be able to take PTO time or we will shorten the 12 weeks.