[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/20/06]

I am a lieutenant with my fire department and have recently advised them of my pregnancy. I was given some restrictions and they immediately took me off the engine.

They then told me I have to start using my sick and vacation leave. This will last me about 14 shifts. I then can get my unpaid FMLA. After those 12 weeks I will not have any benefits or pay. I can pay for my own benefits, which will cost me close to $500 a month.

They stated they would assist me in obtaining another position within the county. I would have to qualify, apply, and test for whatever that position is. There will be no guarantee. I get my position back afterwards. They consider this an off duty injury and there is no light duty for off duty injuries.

I have some different things I am going to try to change this situation. Does anyone have any advice or good ideas?

[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/25/06]

I don't know that what you are being told is true. First, it is a violation of your rights to remove you from your job for being pregnant. According to the PDA and Title VII, it is up to you and your physician as to when it is safest to stop working and when you are no longer capable of doing your job.

I have been doing tons of research (I am not pregnant, but would like kids before the end of the world), and I'm finding that FMLA only guarantees the 12 weeks of leave (paid or unpaid) per rolling year, and your job (or its equivalent) when you return. My department does not guarantee light duty for off-the-job injuries, so in that respect my department's stance is similar to yours. But then, when did pregnancy become an injury? Last time I checked, one had to be at least relatively healthy to conceive!

Also, (at least in my area) pregnancy is not considered a disability so I would not be covered under the LTD insurance that I pay dearly for. As a matter of fact, my union rep told me, "Well, the department doesn't have a policy and won't anytime soon. The Commissioners aren't going to allow us to put language in the contract, and the union isn't willing to fight for it. So I guess you're just going to have to decide whether you want to have kids or be a firefighter."

Other employees (including female administrative staff) have told me that I am being ridiculous and told me that I will single-handedly bankrupt the department. I am getting angry as I write this! I am the first female career firefighter in my department, so I had no expectation of cake and roses, but I am having a hard time with this one. Please feel free to email me at and I will try to share all the info I have with you. Networking can be very helpful!!!

[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/26/06]

Check out this website for more info on the Family and Medical Leave Act:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/whd/fmla.htm I have used it before, and according to the below from the "Definitions" section, my agency required me to exhaust my sick and annual leave before using what they call "Family Friendly Leave"... got to love the bureaucracy!

Anyway, there is a lot of good information on the website there. Check it out!

RW

(2) SUBSTITUTION OF PAID LEAVE.-- (A) IN GENERAL.--An eligible employee may elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or family leave of the employee for leave provided under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (a)(1) for any part of the 12-week period of such leave under such subsection.

[Old Fire Gal]

Also, don't overlook the resources on this website regarding pregnancy and firefighting.

You can click on this link: wfsi.org/women_and_firefighting/issues.php?issue=1

Or you can pull down "Issues" from "Women & Firefighting" in the blue menu bar, and then scroll down the page under "Workplace Issues for Women Firefighters" to the link for reproductive safety.

There's some good basic information plus a further link to a packet you can order (either by download or to have a printed copy sent to you).

[reny hansen]

I hope that my story will help.

I'm the first female in our department. I have over seven years on the job. I have been a lieutenant for about 2 years. I have a great fire chief!

On or about the first of may 05 I found out that I was pregnant--suprise to me and my husband. About the middle of may I told my chief that I was expecting....that was hard! We only have three officers including me. It was hard to tell the guys too! This would mean alot of overtime shifts for the other two. I was very healthy, and in good shape. Our department runs about 450 calls a year, mostly rural. We have lakes, a major highway, major Railroad, and mountains in our district. We have every type of call immaganable! 9 Full time personel.
I worked safely up to the six month mark with no complications or problems. I was more careful on fires, avoided exposures, and was cautious in the ambulance. I worked light duty in the office until two weeks before birth. Had C-section. off three months. Back now working everyother day so that the other two guys can recoop! I had to use sick time for the three months off. FMLA would have been used if I ran out of sick and Vac. The guys are great which is amazing. I have to pump every four hours or so, and they actualy accept it and leave me alone.
some days i have to pull a 48 or 72 that is hard!!
You can be a mom and a firefighter! It is not fun, or easy. I have a great husband!!!!!!! He is a plumber. I actualy look forward to work somedays so that I might get a full nigh of sleep.


Email me for any questions you may have.
I hope the best for you

PS my baby is on our website:
www.saglefire.com

Good Luck
Lt. Reny Hansen
Sagle Idaho

[smitty088]

Dear Lt. Reny,

I love your website and your son is absolutely adorable. It looks like he has red hair! I love red hair it is so beautiful. Please enjoy your son and motherhood. My hat is off to you for balancing career and motherhood. It is a double challenge.
_________________
TT

[reny hansen]

Thanks for the complements. His hair is redish blonde. I just got a call from home saying he is getting his first tooth. He just turned 6 months. Time flys. I'm glad that you checked out our website it is fairly new. We are always expanding it.

Thanks again

[proudmommy]

nice site Lt. Reny

[merlyn210]

I have been with my department for over 15 years and have 2 children. When I first told my chief I was pregnant he said I ahd to come off line. It was pointed out to him that it was actually my choice based on my doctor's recommendation.

I chose to come off line and was assigned light duty under our Union contract. When I had my son and then again when I had my daughter, I used sick time and had some great guys that swapped with me.

I was able to have the required 8 weeks off after my c-sections and then did our physical ability test to get back on line. My kids are now 9 and 7.

They tried changing our light duty policy but we fought it.

You might want to see if your village or whatever has such an animal. I know fo us our Village does but we can be assigned to any department in the Village. They also have to hold our position open to us.

Good luck!

[Bombera5522]

This is such a big issue I can't believe we dont have a class action lawsuit. This is one subject that really burns me up. We all have the right to have a child and not be afraid if we are going to have a job to pay the bills. This is the only job I know of where this is an issue. Our policy is that you can work til you or your doctor feels you can work safely. What does that mean? How can I run in to a burning building safely???LOL But it is the up to the Commish to allow you to work at headquarters during your preg. if there is room. Hopefully noone esle will be pregnant at the time I am. Maybe we should schedule our family planning, you go first. And maybe next year my turn.
_________________
If you do your best, then no one can ask for more...but they will!!!!

[firething]

I talked to a women from Fairfax Co. in VA and she said they make their family-friendly maternity policy a selling point when trying to recruit people. I was floored.

[mdaeb]

THe way I SEE it is this 12 weeks HMMMMM let me see MOST women get 6 weeks off and MOST of them NOT PAID leave to have a baby. that is a choice YOU are choceing to do. CAN THE GUYS get 12 weeks off TOO for having babies???? ALL US WOMEN who have had babies know that it REALLY only takes like 4 tops even with a c-section to snap back into shape and be able to go back to work. I REALLY dont understand WHAT you are crying about........YOU choose to pick this occupation and YOU choose to have a baby,,,,,, what do you want to WORK or to have babies, ALOT of US women who are NOT firefighters live with the same problem YOU are having too so we choose work or have babies and get a sitter like the world of working women does. WELCOME to the REAL world MOST companies do NOT PAY YOU for having babies...... they give you 6 weeks Maternity leave and probley more than 3/4 of the companies DO NOT pay you to have that leave WHY should they? they would go broke, cause REALLY its NOT fair to pay a women to go off the job and have a baby but NOT to pay a man he ALSO has a baby now too.......save up for the time you want off if you are going to have a baby and when YOU and NOT US as taxpayers have to pay for YOU to have kids.

[mdaeb]

[mdaeb]

[Kelly]

mdaeb, do you know what it is like to be a female on the job? You have posted in a few different places and I think from some of your statements you are not on the job and you seem very bitter about some things. If you don't like the maternity policies where you work try to get them changed. Don't bitch at female firefighters because we are gutsy enough to try and change something at our job. And as for your husband not getting off duty when you had a baby, there are trades and he probably has vacation time, which is what my husband did. Don't treat us like we are bad people because we chose firefighting as a career.