Teachers-when to take leave???

Hi there everyone,

I need some urgent advice. As I am extremely stressed at the moment!

I am also a teacher, currently teaching k/1, in an isoslated rural school. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant (nearly 36 weeks) and have been feeling fantastic up until today when I had a big blue with the principal. I'm not due to go on leave, until I am 38 weeks, which is 2 and a half weeks away. Last term I asked my principal if I could use some of my incentive leave (which I get for working in an isoslated school in NSW) to travel to a friend's wedding. The leave I required is on the Monday and Friday before my maternity leave starts. My principal had not confirmed with me whether he was able to get a casual for the days I wanted off, so I asked him about it again today. He basically told me I was rude and incosiderate for wanting to take leave just before my maternity leave starts. Unfortunately, my friend is having a shot gun wedding, because she too, has fallen pregnant and wants to get married before she has the baby. So I didn't get much notice, otherwise I would have taken maternity 1 week earlier. In addition, to calling me rude he also questioned my priorities as a mother to be, going away three weeks before the baby is to born. Which I had already checked with OB and he said, as long as we had plently of stops I should be fine. In the end, he basically told me that if I wanted the time off, I have to amend my maternity leave and start it now. I have felt physically sick and have had diarrhoea since leaving his office this morning and don't want to go back to work now becuase he was so horrible to me and has made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at work. What do you think I should do? There is no one I can talk to at work because there are only three teachers in the school and one of them is an older lady who thinks I should have stopped working at 30 weeks.

I replied to this and its vanished :( Here goes again!
I think you should take your mat leave now to get away from this guy! He is very lucky that you have been good enough to stay this long he should be making it easier for you not adding pressure and stress.

leave NOW enjoy yourself you don't need this kind of crap

if your a good teacher look for another job when you are ready to go back to work, don't let them take control........ sorry employers most of the time are idiots

Bethany, I'm also in a western district school and they've been very supportive. I can't believe what an ass your principal has been to you! You have every right to take your personal incentive leave days, you'll lose them if you don't because they don't accrue. If he can't find a casual, then the class gets split until he does. It's not a biggie. Are you in the Riverina region? Ring staffing in Griffith. Oh :angry: your principal deserves a big boot up his whatsit.
Hope you were able to get somethng sorted since you posted.

can someone help me. I just found out im pregnant, 7 weeks. I will be due 1st March 2009. I am a highschool teacher working in NSW private school. This is my first baby so i know zilch about maternity leave. Im thinking of stop working at the end of term 4. Does this mean i will get 6 weeks holiday pay AND 14 weeks maternity? are holidays counted or not. Confused by some of the posts above.

In the public system it would be better for you to take mat leave from Day one of term1 next year so that the holidays are not counted as part of it. Not sure about the private system.

Hi !!!

I'm a Victorian teacher, and I'm after any info on maternity leave(?)

I'm currently a contract teacher, and I've been told that due to the new agreement I'll be made ongoing in the next 8 weeks when staffing for next year is worked out.

If something happens and I'm not made ongoing, my contract (3yr) will run out in Dec. I'm due in Feb. Would I have any entitlements to mat leave if this is the case? :(

I've looked at department and HR websites, but I'd love some first hand info from people who've taken mat leave recently....

Thanks!

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can someone help me. I just found out im pregnant, 7 weeks. I will be due 1st March 2009. I am a highschool teacher working in NSW private school. This is my first baby so i know zilch about maternity leave. Im thinking of stop working at the end of term 4. Does this mean i will get 6 weeks holiday pay AND 14 weeks maternity? are holidays counted or not. Confused by some of the posts above.

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Hi Sakoon, I am in a similar boat to you but work in the public system. I am due the 27th February 2009. I spoke to employee services about leave last week. I am taking leave as of the 27th January 2009 (the first day that school returns) so that I can take advantage of the 6wks paid holidays over Christmas/New Year. This way I will actually finish work at 30 wks (I teach kindy so am very happy about this)! I am going to take the 28wks half pay (I will still get full pay for the April and July school holidays as these fall in this period) and take advantage of the lower tax rate.

So in answer to your question....Yes u will get 6wks holiday pay and then 14 wks maternity pay if you take leave as of the first day of term 1 2009.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Just another question for everyone....

How many days a week did you work when you went back after maternity leave and what were your experiences like with job sharing?? Can you select someone you would like to job share with?

I went back 3 days a week and job shared with the person of my choice but I don't think principals have to let you chose as I know one woman who had her job share person chosen for her. Having said that in term 4 of the year I came back my boss made me share with a girl coming off mat leave who wanted 2 days a week so I had to change who I shared with which I hated. My boss also hates job shares but has to let us do it legally.
Its very important you get on well with the person you share with as it makes ahuge difference to the whole experience.

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Hi !!!

I'm a Victorian teacher, and I'm after any info on maternity leave(?)

I'm currently a contract teacher, and I've been told that due to the new agreement I'll be made ongoing in the next 8 weeks when staffing for next year is worked out.

If something happens and I'm not made ongoing, my contract (3yr) will run out in Dec. I'm due in Feb. Would I have any entitlements to mat leave if this is the case? :(

I've looked at department and HR websites, but I'd love some first hand info from people who've taken mat leave recently....

Thanks!

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Also, when I move from contract to ongoing, - would this count as continuous service? (hope that makes sense...)

Thanks so much!

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So in answer to your question....Yes u will get 6wks holiday pay and then 14 wks maternity pay if you take leave as of the first day of term 1 2009.

Hope this helps and good luck!

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thanks for your post. yes i have been asking my teacher friends and they are pretty sure that i will get the 6 weeks and 14 weeks maternity leave. Thats great, good timing for me.

In Vic, I'm required to take 6 weeks before the bub in born....the first 2 of the 6 weeks will be in the Christmas hols, - which is a bummer!
Has anyone had a similar situation?
If I'm able to 'work' ie taking four weeks pre bub, all I need to do is get a cert from my Dr stating that I am still fit to work, but when it's in my hols, I'm figuring this isn't an option...
Can anyone please pretty please shed any light on this?
I know condition vary alot from state to state, so if any one has any info in Vic, that would be fab!
Many thanks!

Oh bummer BLBG... I'mpretty certain that you have to either work the first day of term 1 2009, or else your Prin can put in your leave as of that date. Problem is if you are actually due a week or so later that could put them in a tricky position. I had a similar thing happen with Iz where I left on the last day of term 1 2007, and my mat leave began officially on the first day of term 2 2008. As it was only 2 weeks difference my prin could enter in the system with no hassles.
To make sure of your options I would be calling the union to find out. Good luck with it!

Hi Tan, - thanks for your reply.

I'm due 26/2/09, and Vic schools Term 1 starts 28/1/09...

I'm hoping my prin might put my mat leave starting 28/1/09, but I kinda doubt it. She's pretty by-the-books....
I guess it's worth asking??? What do you think?

Thanks!

In NSW you could easily put the first day back at school as your first day of mat leave but we no longer HAVE to take off 6 weeks before the due date.

Try and get your doctor to give you a certificate to say you are fit to work up until 2wks before you are due. Speak to the union as well. They weill be able to help you understand your rights

Hi girls! I am in a similar situation. I am a secondary school teacher in Victoria and bubs is due on February 28th. Here is the info I have for all other Victorian teachers:

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A school teacher who is pregnant begins paid leave six weeks prior to the expected date of birth until six week after the actual date of confinement.

If the twelve week period includes any holiday period, the holidays are on paid maternity leave (i.e. you can't double-dip). We know from the calls we receive that quite a bit of planning goes in to the timing of these events!!!

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So I have to start my maternity leave on the 19th of December (which is the last day of term 4 in Vic) which is a bit annoying - DEET HRM say that

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An employee is permitted to attend for duty during any part of the required absence period if the principal is satisfied that:

**She will be fit for duty for the relevant period (proof of which is to be by medical certificate supplied by the employee), and
**The attendance sought by the employee is at a time employees ordinarily attend for duty at that school.

Where an employee is permitted to attend for duty during part of the required absence period before the birth of the child any paid maternity leave commences from the first day of absence from duty

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So not sure if this means I can try and work the 1st day of term 1 and then get paid maternity leave from there if I have a letter from my care provider saying that I am capable to teach up until the 28th Jan which is exactly 4 weeks before bubs is due - I haven't really been much help at all!!

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev058pr___.png

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So not sure if this means I can try and work the 1st day of term 1 and then get paid maternity leave from there if I have a letter from my care provider saying that I am capable to teach up until the 28th Jan which is exactly 4 weeks before bubs is due - I haven't really been much help at all!!

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev058pr___.png

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^^ Helloooo, - this is what I'm thiking about trying to do too, - working 1st day or two of term 1 09, as they're student free anyway. Only thing is though, it has to be ok-ed with prin.

get a medical certificate from your doctor and you should be fine. Ring someone from your DET for more info and also contact the union. Good luck

Its annoying how the different states have different rules isn't it?

OK I know it's been a while since anyone posted but you all sound like an informative bunch!! I am so confused..... I rang the UNION and the DET plus talk to the school DP and got different info from all......

I am currently in NSW temporary teaching P/T (2days) and am due to have babies (twins) around the 2nd Jan 2011.

My question is..... am I entitled to mat leave? If so how much? how do the summer holidays factor in and what should I do?

(Last year I was teaching temp full time for 2 and half terms)

Please reply with some advice, the above posts are confusing and none really are the same as my situation.

THanks!!

I work in NSW state system.

It depends when you signed your contract to the school for the permenant part time. You may be entitled to some Summer holiday leave (prorated for 2 days a week work for the whole year if you have worked the whole year) but the people who know would be the DET payroll system. Dont rely on your Principal to tell you the correct info.

TBH I dont think you will get mat leave if you havent signed a contract for next year as the school hadnt employed you for next year IYKWIM (check the dates on your contract). You would be entitled to the new paid parental leave scheme though.

HTH

What did the DET say?

You will get paid 2 days a week in the Christmas holidays but I am pretty sure you won't get mat leave as you are only on a temp for this year.

From what I know (which isn't much - just my experience, although I am permanent I was temp for 5 years) You should get your holiday entitlements as usual - pro-rata until you take mat leave. In NSW you have to start your mat leave on your due date - even if its the holidays. I would imagine you are also entitled to pro-rata mat leave pay. That is 14 weeks at your normal 2 days per week. Once your 14 weeks is up you may also find you get paid this rate during the hols until you return to work/12 months. Ring employee services - number on your payslips - I found them really helpful. It shouldnt matter if your temp contract is up, I think they factor in that you couldn't take up a new contract because you are on mat leave.

I'm in NSW but was in the private system, so perhaps a little different. I finished on the last day of the school year, but was due mid-January. I was paid for the school holidays and THEN my maternity pay started. As it happened, I had my baby a week later (4 weeks prem) but it made no difference as to how I was paid.

If you're only a temp, I suspect it's holiday pay and nothing else.

BW

I would ring leave section, they are usually pretty good, I know they were great when I was having DS and had to leave on sick leave at 28 weeks.

I am in the public NSW system, and this is what happens if you are a temp:

you get mat leave IF YOU HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 40 WEEKS

But I don't believe you get anything if you have not been continuously employed. (I think you may be eligible even if you are day to day casual).