From the moment most women find out they're expecting, their minds begin to fill with thoughts of how incredible the next nine months will be. Their baby will grow from the size of a grain of rice into a living, breathing human being. It's amazing to think about how much happens to mom and baby during this time.
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There's also the excitement of dreaming up baby names, decorating the nursery and browsing through the baby section at your local Target. Everything from the clothes to the diapers to the toys looks so small and perfect. Pregnancy is an exciting time spent preparing for your baby and waiting in eager anticipation for their arrival.
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The last thing pregnant women want to do is read through stacks of dry documentation and spend time on the phone — on hold of course — trying to figure out the maze that is maternity benefits. Unlike general benefits that are clearly spelled out and talked about often, maternity benefits are a completely different ballgame. There isn't nearly as much open discussion about them within some companies.
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Women often complain about how hard it is to find the information they need and when they do find it, the information is vague or too convoluted to understand. Searching databases, being transferred every time they call their insurer or sending endless emails to the HR department isn't how most women want to spend their precious nine months of pregnancy.
You might not know that state laws provide special clauses to supplement your maternity leave. You also might not know that you are entitled to a clean, private space to pump when you return to work, or that your employer might be able to help cover the cost of childcare.
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This base provides you with resources that help you plan for your pregnancy and beyond. There's an overview of key information to help you get the planning process started. For example, even if you aren't expecting, you can still ask your company about the maternity benefits they offer to support women.
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There's also a benefits checklist to work through to help you stay organized during the planning phase and up to your return to work. Learn about what FMLA is, how and when to tell your boss you're expecting and how to create a return to work transition plan.
Finally, there's a list of resources that provide additional information based on the stage of planning you're in. Read about tools available for family planning, pregnancy and for when you return to work.
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HR directors can also share the information in this base with employees. The HR team can use it as part of new employee onboarding or when employees start asking about maternity benefits. This base is meant to be a one-stop shop for anyone with questions about maternity benefits and in need of direction as they work through the planning process.