[Kelli Weeks]

I have worked very hard over the past two years using information from WFS to create a maternity policy for my department. I am happy to report after a grueling arbitration, we were awarded a non-hazardous duty option, and 8 weeks of maternity on top of FMLA. The town is now taking the local to court stating the award to be illegal and discriminatory because these options are only available to pregnant females.
Has this happened to anyone else?
what was the outcome?
Have judges held up S.C. California savings and loan?
Does anyone have any other legal documentation they can direct me to in order to support this?
I would love to hear from anyone with any experience on this topic
thanks and stay safe
Kelli

[mdaeb]

[Milly]

Well I'll make you a deal mdaeb.. next time your husband's stomach swells up to the size of a beach ball and he's throwing up from morning sickness and all that, I'll pay for his maternity leave

Could you seriously expect a 9 month pregnant woman to firefighter? No. Use some common sense.

[Kelli Weeks]

Hi mdaeb.. actually no one said anything about paid leave...we don't get any paid leave
thanks for making your ignorant unasked for statements though!
I would still love to hear from anyone with a brain
thanks

[frigaard]

I am a firefighter with a small department. The last time I was pregnant they did not have a policy in place. To make a long story short they put me on a 40 hour week and docked my sick leave 16 hours each week I was on light duty. I am now pregnant with my second child and requested light duty and was told that they did not have enough jobs for me to do and that there was another firefighter who had open heart surgery and has voiced an interest in light duty as well. This places a big financial burden on my family. Does anyone have any suggestions or dept. policies that may help?

Amy

[Firelady7700]

Kelli,
I think everyone should be able to spend time at home and as you stated according to the FMLA they can.
It is a choice to get married, drink, eat, be happy, have sex and yes to get pregnant. Why should female firefighters be looked down upon for wanting to spend time with our children, can these men nurse babies? WHEN ONE CAN! THEN GIVE HIM THE TIME OFF.
But untill then, according to the FMLA he can sit and watch his wife or significant other nurse, the law allows for this.
I am not sure who mdaeb is but obviuosly this person knows nothing of the fire service.
Yes! I can expect a 9 month pregnant woman to firefighter? I did just that and used my common sense and did not go beyond my limits. Even if your not a firefighter you will do only what you feel you can. Every person is usefull on a fire department. Should we throw the person who is restricted due to a heart attack out due to his illness,
ONE COULD SAY HE CHOSE IT,
HOW WAS HIS DIET,
DID HE EXERCISE,
HOW DID HE TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.
ONE COULD SAY HE CHOSE TO HAVE THE HEART ATTACK.
SOUNDS ABSURD HUH, SO DO YOU MDAEB.

I had two babis while on active duty, one baby girl 8 lbs 8 oz and baby boy 8 lbs 15 oz. my doctor said that because I was active and physically fit and did maintain the same way of working that that is what made the babies strong and very healthy.
SO MDAEB, USE THE LITTLE BRAIN YOU HAVE AND MAYBE DO A LITTLE RESEARCH BEFORE OPENING YOUR MOUTH.
_________________
If you don't have integrity, What do you have. Stand for something.

[firemom378]

Hello! I am currently 7 months pregnant and still working on shift as a firefighter/paramedic with this pregnancy. I have the option to work a 40 hour work week Mon-Fri in the office which I had to do on my last 2 pregnancies due to complications and bed rest. The fire department I work for has a policy that as long as my doctor clears me for full firefighting duty I can continue, they did send me to the department's doctor, and I had my normal physical fitness eval as well. I just did the fitness eval when I was a little over 6 months and still could do more sit ups, push ups, etc. than over half of the department so it is possible to have a great pregnancy and stay in shape. I am running 10 minute miles, which is slow for me, but still very good compared to many.
The policy we have for after child birth is the same as our medical leave for any type of procedure. If a man has a surgery, he gets paid medical leave for X amount of weeks depending on the severity and invasiveness of the procedure. The "maternity" leave is actually medical leave for us-I received 6 weeks medical leave for a normal vaginal birth. C-section I believe you get longer of course. After that you need to either come back to work-on shift, light duty, or you can take FMLA. The men are legally eligible for FMLA as well, just most men don't know about it. I have 2 firefighters that I work with that are on FMLA right now to help their wives.
I hope that this helps a little bit-if your department has a policy for medical leave it would be easier to address the time after child birth under that policy rather than terming it a special maternity leave-you will run into problems with people that have the mentality of a prior post. The men can have back surgery, cardiac surgery, etc. and get paid time off on my dept. so making that available to a woman that has a child just makes sense.
If you are union-my IAFF union rep has been a huge source of info for me. If you have any other questions or if anything I have said doesn't make sense please feel free to contact me. Take care and good luck.
Firemom378