[notsobusy]

I don't qualify for maternity benefit as I am self employed but have only been self employed for around 6 months so don't have any contributions!

Will just have to work around baby as best I can! If I have any work.....it's been a bit quiet but am hoping that once babs is born I can start taking in horses again asap!!!

[kildareash]

Originally Posted by silly

re: the Maternity benefit form, i'm due on July 18th - thinking of taking 2.5 weeks before hand, which will see me finish up at the last week of june (around the same time my daughter gets her school holidays) I am saving up holidays and there will be a few bank holidays to add onto the end also, and as i will not be due back until january, that is a new working year so if i really need to i might take some of my 2013 hols as well, or maybe 1-2 weeks (of the 16 allowed) unpaid...depending on my finances. (which i dont think will be great after christmas...it will be very small presents this year - almost hoping that my 11 year old finds out santa isnt real before this christmas, so she might understand why santa cant bring a big expensive present - is that AWFUL of me???)

No it doesn't make you awful, I'd say there are a lot of parents hoping the same thing, over the last few years.

The only bad thing about finishing up the end of June is being back so early in January. I was freaking out about coming back the first week of the new year because I hate working it usually, let alone when I've been off for the last six months and leaving the baby. Hadn't factored in the few bank holidays!

I managed to carry over a few days from last year and I worked up a few days toil so I've only taken one days annual leave so far. I might take a week off in mid-May, and I'm hoping the company won't make me take all my annual leave before my maternity leave starts. Think it would be better for them to allow me to take it at the end, well in my head it is anyway! I'm kinda not saying too much to my boss about it.

[Mink]

Oh jesus maternity benefit forms, it's getting more real again!

Congrats on your girl Cyning, I can't get over the amount of girls for this month! Tink hope you get an evening to the two of you!

Well I'm at home again today with my back Just couldn't hack it yesterday, kept nearly crying in work. I meant to get out early but too much to do. Spoke to my boss and he brought up the whole maternity leave thing. We've agreed that I'll get back to him latest Oct/Nov re my exact plans, ie; am I definitely coming back, part time/full time etc. That's fair so he can plan. I think this whole back thing is bringing the fact that I'm buggering off for 6 months to the forefront, they may be worried that I'll have to finish up early.

Anyway, my dote of a husband gave up his lunch break to go get me that maternity support belt (mmm chicken was talking re it earlier) from Mothercare. It's the Nexcare 3m Support Belt. It was 50 euros but I was desperate. I couldn't even wait to try get one 2nd hand. I put it on last night and have it on now (in my pj's) and I really felt a difference with it. It really does support everything. I hadn't realised how much strain the bump was putting on everything.

Now I'm not out of the woods yet, going to chiro this morning and will see if she's got more strengthening excersises for me to do. I think I said it earlier but midwife said heatpacks were fine to use.

I'll report back in a few days re if belt is still working out but for anyone else suffering it may be the way to go. You may as well see if you can get it 2nd hand too. I'm kicking myself because if I'd known about it at the baby fair I could have gotten one for cheaper and not be missing work today!

Anyone watch those baby shows on Home & Health channel. I may have gotten addicted!! They're so funny as they all seem to have been filmed in the early to mid 90's so the fashion is terrible and everyone's using normal phones, no mobiles haha

[Saurelin]

I need to use all my annual days prior to maternity leave as my company does not allow to carry them to next year.
i used few so far but if my boss will finally get someone to cover my leave I will be able to plan how to use them.

he wants new person to spend at least 4 weeks on training(so someone will have to start no later then mid may) but he actually don't have a candidate yet! and he is looking since mid January !

[TwoMums2Be]

Originally Posted by Saurelin

I need to use all my annual days prior to maternity leave as my company does not allow to carry them to next year.
i used few so far but if my boss will finally get someone to cover my leave I will be able to plan how to use them.

he wants new person to spend at least 4 weeks on training(so someone will have to start no later then mid may) but he actually don't have a candidate yet! and he is looking since mid January !

Saurelin make sure your bosses like of movement on a replacement doesn't make you miss using your annual leave up! I would be telling him the date you are leaving whether the replacement has 4 weeks training or not if he was really looking since mid Jan in this climate there would be no reason not to have a replacement lined up by now...assuming anyone else is willing to work for him...he doesn't sound like the best boss in the world

[Kash]

Glad your back is feeling better with the belt Mink! It must be such a relief

Saurelin, your boss would want to get a move on in hiring someone! My boss has my maternity cover lined up, but we only need to go through a week of training together.

Crikey, this maternity benfit thing is doing my head in! (can you tell i'm practicing my my kiddy safe swear words? )

I'm due on the 13th of July - which is a Friday. Assuming that the 2nd of July fits in with the 2 week minimum, thats when i plan to start leave. Adding my 26 weeks, I get to the 31st of December. All good so far. Then adding on the 4 bank holidays, which coincidentaally crosses a 5th bank holiday, so in fact adding another week. Then it starts getting tricky, because my company closes for 2 weeks over the holiday period. I have no idea if I can simply add those on to the end, or not.

What's worse, is that I am the first person in the Irish office to require maternity leave, so no one has a clue - driving me mad!

[Saurelin]

Saurelin make sure your bosses like of movement on a replacement doesn't mak[e you miss using your annual leave up! I would be telling him the date you are leaving whether the replacement has 4 weeks training or not if he was really looking since mid Jan in this climate there would be no reason not to have a replacement lined up by now...assuming anyone else is willing to work for him...he doesn't sound like the best boss in the world

the issue is I have a clause in my contract that I need special permision od board of directors to get more then 5 working days of holiday. and I need my boss signature to pass is to the owner of the company so he can approve.
and my boss don't want to sign.
i gived him time till end of next week to decide if he is not happy then I will change the date of my maternity leave and go for holidays after my maternity.

i notice that recentlly there were only men coming at interviews and Pa is more women job

[TwoMums2Be]

Lash my partner keeps going flip everytime I use the alternative I do have to get a handle on it but I've told her flip just won't work for me

Re your maternity leave - if the office shuts as in it's not forced annual leave then yes you add it on the end as its not a working time. Technically you would have say 24 weeks of your leave up until the office shuts & then the rest after if that makes sense.
The last place I worked closed over Xmas & that's what happened for those on maternity. Also like others have mentioned check whether you need to use your annual leave before you leave on maternity.

[TwoMums2Be]

Saurelin it's no real surprise that he hasn't got a replacement for you as that's just ridiculous you have to get board permission to go on a two week holiday!

If your boss is refusing to sign the form then he is messing with your ability to take your leave before you have to leave on maternity - I would be getting some advice from citizens information

Any gender can be a PA but it is a more traditional female role!

[kildareash]

Originally Posted by Kash

Crikey, this maternity benfit thing is doing my head in! (can you tell i'm practicing my my kiddy safe swear words? )

I'm due on the 13th of July - which is a Friday. Assuming that the 2nd of July fits in with the 2 week minimum, thats when i plan to start leave. Adding my 26 weeks, I get to the 31st of December. All good so far. Then adding on the 4 bank holidays, which coincidentaally crosses a 5th bank holiday, so in fact adding another week. Then it starts getting tricky, because my company closes for 2 weeks over the holiday period. I have no idea if I can simply add those on to the end, or not.

What's worse, is that I am the first person in the Irish office to require maternity leave, so no one has a clue - driving me mad!

It is really confusing. And then you have the different requirements of each individual company to deal with also. Our HQ is in England, and I'm trying to look through the two maternity handbooks to make sure they don't get anything extra that we don't!

If you're unsure of anything maybe try calling your local citizens information office or the SW office.

Originally Posted by Saurelin

the issue is I have a clause in my contract that I need special permision od board of directors to get more then 5 working days of holiday. and I need my boss signature to pass is to the owner of the company so he can approve.
and my boss don't want to sign.
i gived him time till end of next week to decide if he is not happy then I will change the date of my maternity leave and go for holidays after my maternity.

i notice that recentlly there were only men coming at interviews and Pa is more women job

Don't let him screw you out of your holiday entitlements. Is there anyway that you can send it on to the board without his signature and explain that he wouldn't sign it?
To be honest, he sounds like a bit of a liability for the company.

[TwoMums2Be]

Kildareash you might come across some differences re maternity but they will more than likely be based on differences between UK & Irish entitlements rather than company policy. If your HQ was in the USA they would be getting something like two weeks paid maternity leave which astounds me!

It can be a pain - for instance if our child was born in the UK my partner would be on the birth cert - here she can't go on birth cert & she has no legal rights to our child whatsoever! So frustrating

To me Saurelin your boss sounds like so many dodgy bosses in Ireland & they have only got worse since the recession!

[Saurelin]

Thanks ladies :-)
i will talk to him again about it on Friday. he is always in better mood before weekend.

i just had lunch and I'm so sleepy now

tomorrow gtt test and dentist afterward (I lost filling ) :-/ But that's mean all day off :-) and hubby is going with me :-)

[kildareash]

Originally Posted by TwoMums2Be

Kildareash you might come across some differences re maternity but they will more than likely be based on differences between UK & Irish entitlements rather than company policy. If your HQ was in the USA they would be getting something like two weeks paid maternity leave which astounds me!

It can be a pain - for instance if our child was born in the UK my partner would be on the birth cert - here she can't go on birth cert & she has no legal rights to our child whatsoever! So frustrating

To me Saurelin your boss sounds like so many dodgy bosses in Ireland & they have only got worse since the recession!

Stop, I was getting jealous reading the Uk handbook...free dental care, free prescriptions, lots more benefits than we get! It was the company policy I was looking for, as we seem to be the poor relation over here!

Can you not even make her the legal guardian? That's a joke, The law needs to catch up with the 21st century, fast!

[cyning]

The maternity leave form is an absolute balls to fill out: I rang them earlier because it was wrecking my head between my being sick etc: I have been out sick now since the 8th November So my employer ust has to stick a note on the side of the form and that will solve it all

Also as an aside I'm due the 8th July but I can start my maternity from the 2nd July: if you ring them up they can tell you. It's something to do with the 8th July been in one week and then it only has to be the week before? So the 2nd July-31st December and then with holidays and bank holidays etc. According to the lovely lady in the maternity benefit section anyway!!

[TwoMums2Be]

Originally Posted by kildareash

Stop, I was getting jealous reading the Uk handbook...free dental care, free prescriptions, lots more benefits than we get! It was the company policy I was looking for, as we seem to be the poor relation over here!

Can you not even make her the legal guardian? That's a joke, The law needs to catch up with the 21st century, fast!

That's what we get for rebelling against being taken over all them years ago yep the NHS is great - there is plenty to give out about but it's great to be able to go to the doc & not have to worry about the cost etc! You can also get tested for anything you need & not get the unless someone in your family has been diagnosed we won't test you that goes on here

I can make her the guardian in my will for if anything happens to me but I don't think (I must confirm that) I can make her a legal guardian without giving up my rights...a child can only have one mother legally!
We are going to get a document drawn up that my parents will sign stating that they acknowledge my partner as our child's other parent - it has no legal standing but shows evidence of our family structure we are also double barrelling our surnames so that babs will have both our names. Again just to help with things like travel, doctors, school etc as my partner is not officially a parent Another reason we are having our shotgun wedding as its another indicator that we are the family we are

We are hoping that the children's referendum will look at the many children of same-gender couples that do not have rights to both their parents but it won't surprise me if they get conveniently left off the list! We also hope that full civil marriage will exist for all which would resolve some of the many issues!

Hopefully we might be able to get our daughter a British passport (my partner is British) so at least she can travel on a passport that states both her parents as her parents

It's a minefield but if we waited for Ireland to catch up with reality we would never had a family