No parental leave.

I recently switched jobs last August, I am super regretful. I wanted to go back to my old job and was in the process but found out I am expecting.

I haven’t been here a year yet, so I don’t qualify for FMLA/apparently short term disability.

When I spoke to HR they told me I did qualify for STD ( I’m due in July) until I hit my 1 year mark in August, then I could get on FMLA. I asked him about him parental leave. He said the county did not offer any, kind of chuckled saying “most of the country” doesn’t offer it. I was so mad at that and snapped and said my last two jobs offered 4 weeks of leave. That I was just so surprised to hear that the COUNTY ( which has an insane amount of women working for it) doesn’t offer PARENTAL LEAVE?!

Not to mention he kept reminding me my job isn’t “protected” during that time and that I could come back in 5-6 weeks. Which, no honey, I’m not coming back in 6 weeks. You’re on drugs.

Anyways, I had a meeting w/him last month about FMLA and how it works. I had just gotten out of the hospital the day prior and was honestly not paying attention, since he kept telling me to reach out to another woman in HR for paperwork. Which I know it’s my fault for not paying attention.

I called her yesterday, to discuss the paperwork I would need for FMLA since I just want things squared away once I give birth in July and come August I don’t want it stress ahoht the paperwork and sending it to my OB. She acted like she had no idea why I would call if I hadn’t been there for a full year. Then she had the HR guy I’ve been talking to and herself call me back, and he explained how I don’t qualify for short term disability because I have to be there for a year or FMLA ( which again, I already know about the FMLA). He basically told me I could use whatever PTO I have etc. which isn’t much since everything is accrual. I have 80 hrs lol.

I cried so much, sobbed. Had a mental breakdown. My husband makes good money and we can get buy. Still, everything is insanely expensive, and I guess I’m just really upset by his remarks and lack of empathy towards the situation. I’m mad at this country for not giving a rats ass about pregnant woman and mothers. But expect me to work like a slave until I give birth.

Anyways, I’m in VA! Any women experiencing the same thing? What happened? What did you have to do?