Extend paid maternity leave for 3 months because of the virus

[AmazingGrace16]

There is currently a petition for maternity leave to be extended by 3 months (paid) so that those who have missed out on their mummy play dates and lattes can have time to do this.

Aibu or is it an awful,selfish idea?!

It's got over 100k signatures so it's going to be discussed with a response.

Yabu- it's a brilliant idea
Yanbu-it's a terrible idea

This is ridiculous I'm due back at work on monday from maternity leave. Maternity leave is about having time with your baby not going out and about that is a choice. I took 12 months unpaid instead of the 9 months with some pay because I chose to have more time with my child. No way would I expect more time off or payment everyone is in the same boat. My husband is still working so we have no family time. Life goes on.

Awful. Mat leave is for recovery and bonding not going to baby groups.

Ridiculous.

You're getting a gift already. Weeks of uninterrupted joy with your newborn. Be grateful for your baby and the time you have at home. Go on long walks in the pram or with the baby carrier. Set up in the shade of the garden. Then pipe down and stop being so sodding selfish.

Anyone signing needs their heads checked. Shit happens. Make the most of the situation.

Sorry Triangle. That does sound intense.

I guess until we're able to safely relax lockdown rules this is going to be the reality for many parents

Yanbu and I'm on mat leave now. I do feel sorry for those without a support network who would have used the groups for that but extending mat leave won't help. Everyone's stuck in a shit situation, just different amounts of it

Sorry I got the voting round the wrong way. Exhaustion is well and truly catching up with me now trying to wfh ft, work on site, teach my children etc etc. Same struggles we all have!

People keep sharing this stupid petition on mum’s groups I’m in and it makes me angrier and angrier.

The baby doesn’t care about baby groups.

I’m on my second mat leave currently (but as I’m not going back i keep forgetting that it’s technically still mat leave). I don’t think the baby is missing out on anything.

I saw someone complain recently about the fact that they couldn’t get their free dentist check up because of lockdown. Nothing wrong with their teeth they just wanted the free check because they’d had a baby and it’s what they’re entitled to. For fucks sake.

Those supporting this might be wise to think of the law of unintended consequences - I'm thinking here of discrimination against women of childbearing age

That's wrong of course, but suggestions like this are hardly going to encourage some employers into a better way of thinking

I am currently on maternity leave and am more worried about what childcare options will be available when it ends. I read that around 50% of childcare operators may go bust. If it could be extended unpaid that would be helpful.

@Needingsupportplease

Surely you mean you took the additional 3 months unpaid?

The way you have phrased it makes it sound as though it was was a 9 month paid versus 12 month unpaid choice?.

I took 12 months mat leave.

By the same token I think it would be helpful if parents were offered unpaid leave. I’d take this, I just want the security of having a job to go back to.

What about mums whose babies had health issues and couldn’t be taken to baby groups? They should have an extra 3 months after their baby gets out of hospital! And mums with PND or other medical problems who struggled to get out to baby groups - when they’re feeling better they should have an extra 3 months too. Oh, and if you’re broke and can’t afford baby groups, then when your DH gets a better paid job you should get 3 months to go to all the groups you missed!

Not everyone gets to go to baby groups, for a variety of reasons. These selfish women need to get over themselves.

Ffs....

Unpaid would be ok as it would reduce the payroll but not paid.

Ridiculous
Yes 3 months extra unpaid as it would be completely your choice

Everyone has missed out on everything last few months , not exclusively new mothers

This would really irritate me if I saw this petition shared on any social media posts

Thankfully none of my friends or acquaintances are that idiotic

I'm at the end of my mat leave in a month and do feel a bit sad. We just moved to a new area and I can't meet new mums like I planned. I feel sad for DD missing out on fun with me, instead we're just trying to get through each day at a time.

But fuck, how unreasonable. People have lost jobs. I imagine some workplaces might welcome a request to extend unpaid, bit paid leave is fucking ridiculous.

I had PND and my baby was born with sepsis and weve been back to hospital numerous times when its returned.. still doesnt give me a right to more leave and money..

Yes @Crunchymum took 3 months extra unpaid it was still my maternity leave though and now my husband gets less because of corona and were not entitled to support, were struggling to pay bills like everybody else doesnt mean I should benefit..