Still thinking about moving to Florida

[synthia]

Employment contracts are very rare. Companies don't have to give you any vacation, for instance. Most labor laws are state laws. Florida, for instance has its own minimum wage law. Employment there is 'at will', meaning you can walk quit whenever you want, and you can be let go whenever the employer wants, as long as it isn't because of race, creed, religion, national origin, or gender. No notice is required.

The pregnancy thing is interesting, because being allowed to work up until labor begins was one of the things women fought for in the 80's. Rather than being restrictive of women, it was seen as freeing. Your employer can't make you work once you are six weeks from delivery.

At the time the new law came into effect the policy at my employer, a major consumer goods company, was this: Upon discovery she was pregnant, a female employee was required to report the pregnancy immediately to the company and submit to a physical exam by a company-hired doctor to verify that she was indeed pregnant and to set the date she would leave, which would be no later than the end of the sixth month of pregnancy. They required a return to work six weeks after the birth. None of this time off was paid.

The new law was that, first, in no way was an employee required to see any physician but her own or receive reports from that physician. It was up to the employee to decide when to leave, although the company could force the pregnant woman to stay home for the last six weeks of pregnancy, but I think they had to pay her. It doesn't happen. The employee can take up to three months off and be guaranteed the same or equivalent job. Six weeks of that time must be treated as if it were a disability for any other reason, such as my broken ankle. The rest of the time is unpaid.

Not that you cared, but I tend to run off at the fingers.

[synthia]

About Florida: It depends a great deal on where you are. The west coast is very different than the east coast. St. Petersburg is a small city near Tampa, and they could be in different worlds. Tampa has heavy traffic and aggressive drivers and big city push. In St. Pete, people sort of dawdle along, let you in when you are pulling out of gas stations, stuff like that.

And, oh yeah, people do things like open or hold doors for other people. Not for women, but for the person behind you, the person with packages, the one pushing the stroller. It's nice.

[twostep]

Cynthia - we are getting off topic but can you please share a link with the law you metnioned about pregnancies and three months off? Thank you.

[Bevdeforges]

Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 - details here: U.S. Department of Labor: Compliance Assistance: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Cheers,
Bev

[twostep]

Now we are cooking with gas.
Under certain circumstances an employee can request this time off. It involves a certain amount of red tape and is initiated by the employee.
Maternity leave for a single birth is six paid weeks after delivery.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by twostep

Now we are cooking with gas.
Maternity leave for a single birth is six paid weeks after delivery.

What state are you talking about here? The Federal law only requires 12 weeks unpaid leave. To my knowledge there is no Federal statute that requires paid maternity leave - but a pregnant worker can take paid sick time according to the company policies, which must be applied equally to all employees (i.e. same allotment of sick time for, say, someone who suffers a heart attack).
Cheers,
Bev

[twostep]

I stand corrected:>)

[synthia]

The six weeks comes from the standard time that a doctor will say you need to stay at home after a birth. Unless you request permission from your doctor (and you need a form filled out) to return earlier, six weeks is what the doctor will request, and therefor what the company must treat the same as they do any other illness.