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So what does everyone think is an appropriate time to leave work?
to give a bit of picture of what i do... I'm an Assistant in Nurse in a nursing home, working in all sections (dementia mainly, highcare and lowcare) all which involve manual handling and being on feet alll day!
i'm ony casual so wont get maternity leave... just would like opinions of when everyone else quit :)
i worked at kmart 38 hrs a week, sometimes doing 10 hr days when i was pregnant with my twins i was on my feet all day also manual handling. was always in pain and sore but i didnt leave work until i was 32 weeks.
i work in a take away shop, 4 x 5 hour shifts, 1 x 9 hour shift and every 2nd sat for 4 hours. im already uncomfortable, i cant rush around the kitchen like i could before, im scared of slipping on the greasy floor and my legs ache! i have told them ill be there till the end of april... i highly doubt i will be though!
how much notice do you need to give?
As I'm casual most i need to give is two weeks...
Would just like to give a estimation to be prepared.
At the moment i'm doing 7shifts, 2x4hourly, 3x8hourly, 2x6hourly... Plus getting called in...
I'm already comming home exhausted and aching... My back is killing me and after a shift my belly is excruseating (cant spell tonight)
Rach I'm pretty sure it's 10 weeks notice (10 weeks before your due date)..I think...was looking it up the other day cause I need to tell work that I am pregnant!
...from the NSW Office of Industrial relations (may be different in your state)-
"6. How much notice should I give my employer of my intention to take parental leave?
Maternity and Extended Paternity or Partner Leave
* For maternity leave and extended paternity or partner leave, you should give your employer at least ten weeks' notice in writing of your intention to take the leave; then
* at least 4 weeks' before taking the leave, you should give your employer written notice of the dates on which you propose to start and end the period of leave. "
So maybe it's 10 weeks before you intend to start the leave...not sure, I know that in my workplace's leave policies it's a bit more specific.
At the moment I'm planning on leaving at the beginning of June, want to leave as late as possible as I while I can apparently get 12 months maternity leave, I won't be eligible to get maternity leave payments, so need the money while I can get it! So that will be about 4/5 weeks before my EDD, hopefully bubs doesn't decide to be super early! I have an office job though where I'm sitting in front of a computer most of the time, with a bit of walking around the office, so nothing too physically demanding or stressful. Being my first pregnancy I'm not really sure what to expect, maybe leaving that late is leaving it too late and I'll be really struggling by then? Who knows!
i worked as a casual bookseller at angus and robertson. i always said i would work until i felt uncomfortable. i ended up stopping one week before my due date, lucky he came 10 days late so i had a full 2 weeks to settle myself.
as a casual, by law you only need to give 2 HOURS notice as that is all an employer has to give you to fire you. but if you want to stay on the goodside of your employer(if you are a casual) just tell them you will give them 2 weeks notice when the time comes.
I work full time but get no paid maternity leave. Will try to stay until 35 weeks however I have high blood pressure and it might not let me!
I work in an office type environment, and I am leaving at 35 weeks. Not a moment too soon!
I'm a dental nurse, and I left at 32 weeks....thank goodness! My back was killing me, my mind was wandering, and I couldn't wait to get out of there! I love my job, but I was just over it by the third trimester. Also, DS came at 35 weeks, so I was so relieved that I actually got some maternity leave ;)
Well i'm thinking 32-35weeks is the general consenus... I'm thinking i'm going to aim for around then and just keep an eye on how i'm feeling...
yeah im aiming for 32 weeks, but i highky doubt ill last that long!
perhaps just give them a rough 'end of April' like i did.... but let them know it could change?
Well being on your feet all day would just be awful in the last couple of months! I finished up work just this week (37 weeks) and I work in a bank, sit down at desk job and can I say that I would not have been able to work any longer. My last day I was really feeling it! I am always so pooped, can't bend down, belly just gets in the way and even just getting up from my seat was effort. If you can, I'd say finish up around 32 weeks. But being casual you don't need to give them notice (of course it is polite to), so in that case maybe you can just take it week by week and see how you go and when you feel like it's getting too much just let them know you're happy to do the next couple of shifts or whatever but then that's it for you.
I finished up this week at 36 weeks and to be honest, I think I should have finished up around 34 weeks when I still had a bit of energy so I could finish up the stuff that needed to be done around the house. I feel I've left it that bit too late and now I'm tired, the house is a mess and if the baby comes tomorrow (please, just a bit longer baby!) then I wouldn't be ready! :wall:
I had planned to finish at 36 weeks (but taking a day off every week or so in the last few weeks). But then I got GD, was injecting insulin, running around with extra appointments, and generally feeling totally over it so moved it to 34.5 weeks. If I could have left earlier I would. I think it's a lot easier to set an earlier date then work longer if you feel up to it, than the other way around (depending on if/how they're replacing you). My experience is most places run late on organising replacements, and then want you there till the last moment.
Next time I'm not working past 30 weeks, but that's partly cos of my higher risk of GD and also because I know I'll have a toddler too. Oh and my work was desk-based too, not on my feet - but I was catching public transport which was a PITA.