| Is it possible to get paid during your maternity | | | | I work in a very small office. My Executive Director |
| leave--even when there is no formal policy? | | | | and the Executive Committee thought the written |
| Anything is possible. For example, in the category of | | | | request was great. They approved my request for 12 |
| flexible work arrangements, I've occasionally heard | | | | weeks leave with 4 paid! An excellent outcome. |
| from working moms who negotiated a four-day, | | | | 3. Your negotiations for the time element of leave, i.e., |
| 32-hour workweek without a reduction in their full-time | | | | your baseline maternity leave*, went smoothly. If you |
| pay. | | | | get a solid sense of your manager's support during the |
| This is an unusual outcome, but it shows what can | | | | first part of your request, you might segue into the pay |
| happen when you ask. One pregnant woman, a hotel | | | | issue with relative ease. But if discussions were tense |
| industry professional, told me she sealed such a deal | | | | and the time off segment hard-won, it's probably |
| four months prior to her maternity leave. | | | | better to take what you got and back off on the pay |
| Likewise, getting paid during what I label supplemental | | | | issue. |
| leave* is unusual (outside of vacation, disability and sick | | | | Your gut instinct is probably the best judge when |
| pay), but anything may happen when you ask. | | | | deciding whether or not to make the request to be |
| Asking works! | | | | paid during supplemental leave. If you do, one to three |
| Do You Meet These Three Conditions? | | | | weeks is a reasonable request--aim for that range. |
| There are three certain conditions that foster a | | | | What if Paid Maternity Leave is Not Possible? |
| favorable outcome, besides your negotiating savvy: | | | | If you sense that you're not in a favorable enough |
| 1. Your work performance and reputation are so highly | | | | place for requesting paid supplemental leave, then aim |
| regarded that pleasing you is clearly in your employer's | | | | for these next-best options*: |
| best interest. They may even fear losing you if you | | | | 1. Phase-back to work on a part-time basis. |
| don't get what you ask for. | | | | 2. Get back on the payroll and do part of your work |
| 2. You work for a relatively small, private employer. Its | | | | from home for several weeks. |
| small size allows for more flexibility in negotiated | | | | While not as appealing as fully-paid maternity leave, a |
| outcomes compared with larger employers, the | | | | strategic request for these flexible work arrangements |
| government or a union shop. Everything is customized | | | | can also get approval, even when no policy exists. |
| and off the books, because there are no policies! For | | | | Anything is possible when you ask. |
| example, one woman wrote me: | | | | |