Does anyone know about changing jobs while pregnant?

[kristie]

I am applying for a job at a hospital that is closer to me and actually where I plan to deliver. At my current job I have insurance, STD, 160 pto hours saved up so far, and FMLA.

I have hesitated to apply for this job because I am scared of rocking the boat. I would only have 6-7 months at the new job so I don't think I would be covered under FMLA, right? I am not sure if switching insurances if I have continuous coverage would screw me over or be no big deal? What kinds of questions should I ask? Is this even doable or should I just sit tight until after the baby is born? Can I just cash my pto hours in or do I lose them if I quit?

[urbancowgirl]

I don't have any experience with this, but I believe @iamsnazzy switched jobs while pg. Forgive me if I'm wrong!

[kristie]

Yeah, I am trying to avoid asking questions at my current job because it is a very small hospital and it wouldn't go over well with my boss. She basically told me when I started there that labor and delivery is a very small world in this area and the only way I could ever leave with a good reference from her was to be moving very far away. She is a little vindictive....

I figured I wouldn't have FMLA coverage, but am not too worried about that. The insurance and PTO is my biggest concern.

[Deleted]

You need to be somewhere a year before FMLA kicks in but some states have additional coverage (like in MA you only need to work somewhere 6 months and then you get 8 weeks job protection).

There should be something somewhere about the policy for PTO. I work in a hospital and I think a percentage is paid out depending on how long you've been there (here they lump holidays, vacation, and sick time all as PTO, so that's why, since you wouldn't get paid out for sick/holiday time if it was separate).

[underwaterrhymes]

alzi did this and it worked out really well for her.

[alzi]

I did this! FMLA did not apply to me, but new job had no problem keeping the job for me while I took mat leave. Obviously you would need to make sure you could accrue time for leave. Depends how long you will be there. I just took my time unpaid. Disability insurance can continue after you leave your job, I just changed the billing to my house and paid it directly rather than through my paycheck. Changing jobs is considered a qualifying event, so you can change health insurance. Just depends if you could get on the new insurance immediately. Obviously you can't have a lapse in between while pg.

It was the best thing I could have done, and am SO happy. And I almost didn't apply bc I thought I couldn't while pregnant. I think it's worth a shot and then crunch the numbers to see if it's feasible if you are offered the job.

Good luck!

[Deleted]

Oh and often insurance will run through the end of the month, and sometimes will kick in right away (this is what happened when I switched jobs). That's something to ask your new job. If it's only a 2 week gap that's pretty cheap to cover or something. If it's longer it's something to keep in mind. I wouldn't want to be pregnant with a 60 day gap in coverage to pay for COBRA.

Also at my old job (university) you could enroll in COBRA as part of the exit package.

[Yankees21]

Do you have an employee handbook? The paying out of PTO should be laid out in there. I don't think you'd be eligible for FMLA, but they could still agree to give you leave.

[vanillacourage]

I interviewed at 10w pregnant.  Did not say anything to them until I had a final (i.e. post-negotiation) offer in writing, then told them I would love to accept but would need 10w off beginning approximately ____ in order to do so.  (Baby was due during busy season for new job, so it could legitimately have been a dealbreaker.)  Boss told me he appreciated my honesty and ended up giving me 12w.  I used the five minutes of PTO I'd accrued by my due date and took the rest as unpaid. 

I qualified for FMLA at my old job and would have just stayed if they'd told me that 10w would not be possible, so I really had nothing to lose.

Good luck!

Two ETAs - typically your accrued/earned vacation time will pay out when you leave a job, but not sick.  Also, when I accepted my new job, I did it via email and said that I was pleased to accept, conditional upon 10w maternity leave beginning approximately ___.  That way it was all in writing.

[kristie]

I am sure I have a handbook somewhere. I will ask a lot of questions about insurance and allowing a leave of absence at the new place when I meet with her. I hope I can make this work, it is day shift and a 5 minute drive instead of 45. I might actually feel like a normal person and will save a crap ton in gas. I wonder if I stayed on at my old job for a few extra weeks and trained at the new one at the same time if I could make the insurance coverage remain continuous.... I would be tired, but it is probably doable for a few weeks.

[Deleted]

Check your current job's insurance rates for part-time employees. That might be worth doing -- almost definitely cheaper than COBRA. If they'll let you.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 11, 2013 15:13:13 GMT -5 kristie said:

I am sure I have a handbook somewhere. I will ask a lot of questions about insurance and allowing a leave of absence at the new place when I meet with her. I hope I can make this work, it is day shift and a 5 minute drive instead of 45. I might actually feel like a normal person and will save a crap ton in gas. I wonder if I stayed on at my old job for a few extra weeks and trained at the new one at the same time if I could make the insurance coverage remain continuous.... I would be tired, but it is probably doable for a few weeks.

You should have continuous coverage as long as there is no gap in employment. 

[Deleted]

What state are you in? In Cali I have to keep a job open for anyone that has a baby, even if they don't yet qualify for FMLA.

[kristie]

I am in Tennessee. I don't think we are too advanced in our labor laws and definitely not for whores with uteruses.

[MrsAggie]

I'm not sure how TN is but both of my TX nursing jobs have a 90 probation period where you don't have access to benefits yet. That would mean 3 months of no insurance. My husband, on the other hand, got great benefits immediately at his new job so I chose to be on his insurance. My concern would be the lack of insurance during pregnancy.

FWIW, my last hospital paid out PTO (at a 75% of value rate) for fulfilling the 30 day notice.