Do I leave or do I stay - Help please?
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
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Topic: Do I leave or do I stay - Help please?
Posted By: Parki
Subject: Do I leave or do I stay - Help please?
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 11:44am
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Hi there,
I was wondering if you could help me with something. I have wanted to leave my current job for a while now. I can't stand it and the boredom is driving me nuts, as well as latest changes to our company and being taken advantage of all the time. My question is..... DH and I are TTC and we would really like a baby as soon as possible. If I leave and start a new job and get pregnant I won't be entitled to any maternity leave for at least 6 months and after looking at the Family credit thing we wouldn't be entitled to anything there either as we are over the salary mark (stupidest system ever). So having a mortgage to pay, the maternity leave would come in handy..... So do I leave or do I try and stick it out until I fall pregnant? Anyone been in a similar situation?  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:07pm
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Well, I'd leave.. my reasons:
- you never know how long it may take to fall preggers, could be 1 month, 6 months or more etc.. - being in a job that you dislike really sucks I've been there - you can start saving up now just whatever you can to make up for the maternity leave |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:20pm
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If you started a new job soon, couldn't you still be eligible for maternity leave? If you have to have been working for 6 months, does it matter if those six months are the first 6 months of your pregnancy? I would say get an idea of when you might finish work (how many weeks pregnant), and then work back 6 months from there to figure out the latest stage of pregnancy that you could start a new job. Of course, that doesn't allow for if you end up needing/wanting not to work as long into pregnancy, but I'd say its a reasonable starting point.
And as Stacey says, you don't know how long it may take to get pregnant, so you may get your six months in the new job anyway (fingers crossed for you that you don't, but you never know). |
Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:26pm
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If it were me I would move on to another job. I think if you are unhappy then you should definitely do something to change it. I can't stand seeing people be taken advantage of.
The sooner you move on the more time you will have between starting your job and the baby arriving so you may just squeeze in and the get maternity leave. Good luck if you do decide to hunt for something new. |
Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:28pm
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After looking through my company's maternity leave policy and checking out the Labour website ive discovered:
if you leave your job now and get a new one and fall pg within the fist six months, the gestation of your pg will be longer than those 6 months which means you will be entitled to ML. If you fall pg nw, and find a new job and are due before the 6 mnths mark you are inelligible.. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:52pm
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If you are pregnant now, I wouldn't, obviously.
I was in exactly the same situation as you about 18 months ago - TTC, and wondering over whether or not to go for a new job. I ummed and ahhed and ummed and ahhed but in the end, I decided to do it. Yes, I might have fallen pg immediately (I still would have been entitled to PPL though, assuming I worked for 6 months at that job), but then again, it may have taken a while in which case, I really wanted to be doing something new. You can't know how long TTC will take, so I say don't put your life on hold for it. ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 12:57pm
I would go for it  Maybe tighten your budget up a bit if you can - get used to living on one income so if you find you want to spend longer at home with bubs it won't be so hard. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:10pm
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Thanks ladies.
I don't know alot about maternity leave etc. So if I worked for a new company for 6 months then I am entitled to less maternity leave than if I have been with the company for over 2 years? Is that the way it works? It seems I would be better off getting a part timeish job while I am pregnant as you only get a certain amount of maternity leave anyway which would be a substantial amount less than what I earn weekly at a full time job. I don't get all this, it confuses me greatly! And after trying to figure out the whole tax credit thing I was a lost cause!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:13pm
| It doesn't matter how long you have been working at a job, so long as it's over 6 months you would get the same amount of money. |
Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:16pm
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I also agree with finding a new job especially before you get pregnant - no point being misrable and by the sounds of it you havnt liked your job in ages.
You dont want to put your life on hold while TTC as someone has said you never know how long it will take. With PPL the way I had it explained to me was that you had to be in full time work (more than 30 hours a week) for at least 6 months (with one company) to get PPL. So even if you found a new job right now and fell pregnany straight away you would still be right (as long as it was more than 30 hours a week). Does that make sense? |
Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:20pm
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I thought that if you had been with a companmy for over two years you were entitled to 14 weeks of whatever the amount is you get.
And if you had been there under a year it was less? Must ahd read that worng? Can't recall where I actually read that! Ha! God, I am a bit of a nutter right now trying to sort everything in my head! Thanks for your help, off to look for jobs......  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:30pm
No, if you have been there over six months but under a year, it's still the same figure as if you had been there 10 yrs for example 
6 months is the magic number. |
Parki wrote:Posted By: josephnia
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 1:35pm
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I'm pretty sure the maximum you get is around $390 per week before tax regardless of how much you earn (but if you normally earn less than that then you get less) Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.
Your company may have a separate maternity policy - I know that I get 14 weeks from the government but also an independant 14 weeks from the company I work for provided I go back to work for them after the year. -------------  
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 2:03pm
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You get the 14 weeks PPL if you have been in the job 6 months or more when you leave to have the baby. I think you are getting confused with the fact that if you have been in the job less than 12 months when you go on maternity leave they legally don't have to hold your job open for you. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 2:34pm
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Too lazy to read all the replies but I started a new job when I was 9 weeks pg and i still got the full 14 weeks paid, however I was not entitled to anytime off unpaid (but my work let me have it anyway), so just be aware that any new employer may tell you that you have to come back after the 14 weeks. If you are with them 12 months then you are entitled to the time off unpaid, up to a total of 12 months. The dates are for your due date, so 6 months at due date for ppl or 12 months at due date for ppl and time off unpaid.
I personally would leave, being in a job you hate sucks and being in and pregnant especially if the employer is difficult about it would suck even more. Plus you don't know how long it could take to get pg and you could always take a break from TTC and then start again once you are at the new job. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 5:58pm
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Paid parental leave kicks in if you have been at your job 6 months before your due date.
Paid parental leave is a set amount $320 after tax. The 12 months is for your new employer to keep your job open. Also remember you will have annual leave entitlement. So depending on when you get pregnant you will have 4 weeks annual leave pay also. You are also entitled to up to 10 days leave for anything to do with your pregnancy this is over and above your normal sick leave. Recommend you go here http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/parentalleave/ If you aren't pregnant currently go for it and find yourself something better 9 months is long time to be somewhere you aren't happy. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 6:47pm
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Yep, as everyone said yyou are eligible for PPL if you have been at the job for at least 6 months and at least 10 hours a week.
The time differences matter with regards to holding your job open. I think (but dont quote me) that if you have been there only 6months you are only entitled to 4 weeks off work and if you have been there 12mnonths you are entitled to 52 weeks off work. This has nothing to do with paid parental....just whether you can come back to your job. There is a website that clarifies it. I will try and find link |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 6:49pm
| http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/parentalleave/employees/summary.html - linky |
Posted By: liz01
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 7:07pm
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Hi
I work in HR but here is a quick run down. If you have been working for theo rganisation less than 6 months you are not entitled to PPL (paid parental leave). It is up to your work as to how flexible they are with giving you time off leave without pay. If you have been with them for over 6 months less than 12 then you are entitled to the PPL but not any more time off. If you have been with the orgn 12 months or over you are entitled to the 14 weeks and 36 weeks off without pay (to make up to total of 52 weeks). I would TTC anyway - you dont know how long it will take and most organisations are flexible if you are a good employee etc. Re the payment I didnt think it was as high as $390 but have lost track of how much it has increased by. Remember it is before tax so tax will still have to come off it. Hope this helps. |
Posted By: ItchyFeet
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 7:30pm
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Two other things to keep in mind - the parental leave of 14 weeks mean your job has to be kept for you. If you take extended leave from 14-52 weeks (36 weeks), then the company does not have to keep your job for you as such, they have to offer you "an equivalent". This should be stated on your letter from your employer and you have rights to dispute this.
Note also that a second job while on parental leave will be taxed at the secondary tax rate even though you are deriving no income from your first job, you are still employed there (and continue to accrue annual leave). |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 8:11pm
| Itchy feet, you have me interested now. How do you accrue annual leave when you arent working? |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 8:21pm
| I was told that while on extended maternity leave you accure leave technically but it's not worth anything as you haven't worked during that time. So essentially it's like being able to take unpaid leave. |
Posted By: ItchyFeet
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 8:37pm
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Stacey, you're right. You continue to accrue leave, but the value is based on your previous 52 weeks annual earnings. Therefore, if you come back to work after 52 weeks, you will have accrued 20 days but at zero value as you haven't been earning in that time. If you go back earlier, then you won't have accrued as many days, but it will have some value attached.
This is one of the reasons I believe you are supposed to be paid out on your annual leave balance as you go on parental leave. Otherwise the built-up value of your leave will just continue to diminish even though you still retain the number of days at the time of going on leave. I think also if you're made redundant during extended leave, the amount of holidays you accrue at whatever the average 52 week value is should also be paid out to you. |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 8:40pm
| My annual leave balance wasn't paid out to me, simply because it will be waiting for me when I "return" - I'm not actually going to return so it will be paid out to me when I resign. I got a letter from my job last week stating how much leave I have owing (as everyone gets told at this time of year and since I'm not there they sent it to me). I've got 25 days annual leave owing. 8 of which I will get paid out for, the rest are worth $0 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 29 January 2008 at 9:23pm
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You have some good advice/info on here. I would leave also, you don't know how long TTC will take and even then there's probably a 9m wait before the baby. Most people seem to work 6-8 mos of their pregnancy anyway.
The PPL is not very much, similar to a dole payment, so if I were you in prep for conceiving I would be reviewing the family budget to see what can be trimmed etc. You don't have to live completely frugal but it's not a bad exercise to do anyway. -------------  |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 7:25am
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Would you def leave if you were not TTC?
If yes, then I'd go for it as TTC may take months and then you'll probably work until your are 6-7 months preggers at least. If in doubt, I'd stay as you don't know how long it will take to find a new job and how good that new job will be anyways. Also strating new job could be quite demanding if you are newly pregnant with morning sickness etc ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:46am
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Wow, there is so much info that I had no idea about!
Thanks so much! You ladies are FULL of useful info
I agree, that we don't know how long TTC will take so would probably be best to start a new job. But then I think about (what yummymummy mentioned) if I was to start a new job and then got pregnant and was having to have days off due to sickness or any possible issues that may arise, I would feel quite dishonest to the company for letting them hire me with the intention of leaving at some point in the (hopefully) near future and then taking days off all the time! Another problem I have is I work in an office environment at the moment and this is my main problem. I don't want to work in an office, I want to be outside, being active and doing something I love that excites me. I have decided that I will not work in another office because my boredom kicks in after about a month, its just not for me. BUT I think this would probably be the best sort of job to have whilst pregnant, especially towards the later stages? So my point is (believe me, there is one!) that is there any point in leaving an office job now to find a job I love to just leave soonish after and have no intention of returning? Or best to stick out this boring job, take PPL and then resign. Stay home with our baby for maybe one - two years and then look into changing career paths? Its not so much all about the money but more about when to 'start' a new 'career' as such!? Sorry, I hope this is making sense... And thanks again for your replies ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 9:08am
| Well I had an office job for my pregnancy and it was total ass. I would have prefered to be up and active. Towards the end I was more the errand girl, someone had something they needed taking somewhere I went and did that so I didn't have to be stuck on a chair all day. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 5:12pm
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I left an office job to go "back on my tool" (i'm an electrician) and I think that I would have worked longer had I have still been in the office job, although may have got uncomfy sitting in a chair all day. But I did find it hard to be on my feet for 8 hours a day and I only worked 3 days a week (but would then spend my days off recovering from work). I also ended up taking my annual leave and finishing work at 32 weeks cos I got sciatic nerve pain and was in agony plus had 1 1/4 commute and was worried about going into labour half way between Christchurch and Ashburton. I also struggled with lifting stuff and would have to constantly ask someone for help, couldn't spend much time bent over or working on the floor etc (which are all things you would have to take into account if doing an outdoors/manual labour type of job)
However I do not regret changing jobs because even though it may have been physically harder and more tiring I didn't have to put up with an arse of a boss working 50 hours a week in a job I hated. Instead I worked 24-30 hours in a job I didn't mind with a boss that was great and understanding throughout the whole of my pregnancy (and now lets me work casually from home). I think personally if it was me I would change jobs now, you don't know how long it is going to take to get pregnant and you can always stop trying now find a new job and then start trying again once you have been there for a few months. I also don't think it is dishonest as we never know what is going to happen, you could be there 5 years before you get pg or it could be 5 days -------------
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 6:50pm
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Is there some kind of training or study you could do towards what you want to do while still in your current office job? Then when bubs comes along you could be on your way to a job doing something you prefer.
You'd be surprised at how accommodating employers can be, I've only been at my work for 2 months and I think they all expect me to be pregnant within a year of our wedding day and to come back after 1 years maternity leave.
You don't have to disclose anything about TTC to a prospective employer. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Rashika
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 5:31am
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I have wrestled with this one for about a year now.
I trained to do something related but different to what i do now, applied for a couple of jobs, then decided to TTC so stopped applying. Got pregnant, then lost bubs at 14 weeks, so now I'm contemplating again. On the plus side i have some good friends here, been here for about 14 years (with one break elsewhere), dont mind the work too much, get paid well. Down side I want to do what I've been training to do and there are some people at work who really P--- me off, and would like to move on. I think at the moment staying will win as I suspect I will get pregnant again fairly quickly when we are able to try. ...but YEP it is a tough one. Write down your pros and cons and see how they weigh up. Maybe there is something you can do at your current place that will keep you interested? |
Posted By: alexbabe
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 3:52pm
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I know i was looking at if i should start a new job when TTC, i decided that life is to short to not do something based on what if's. I have been with my new job a few months now and still TTC.
I am glad I have changed jobs, because I am alot happier, which means less stress when TTC. |
Posted By: KiwiNZ
Date Posted: 03 February 2008 at 7:13am
lol I just went for a job interview for this fantastic job last week and now have a BFP after three years. I guess I won't be taking that job! ------------- PAM http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: alexbabe
Date Posted: 04 February 2008 at 11:54am
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Congrats KiwiNZ,
Yeah, would have been nice to get the new job-but then again-you wont be long in this current one and you get to go on maternity leave and enjoy the new bundle |