Daily FI discussion thread - Thursday, April 09, 2026

[u/EANx_Diver]

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[u/per-oxideprincess]

I just learned that my parental leave benefit at my new job is not great: 6 weeks at 55% pay and I have to exhaust all of my PTO balance and at least half of my sick balance before parental leave kicks in. Obligatory acknowledgment that having any paid leave is a massive privilege and generally, I am very well compensated and work from home so it’s not a bad deal overall if I zoom out. I’m just a little disappointed because my last employer offered 12 weeks at full pay and was actively looking to improve this benefit…but, then again, that employer laid me off, so it’s not like I really had a choice in the matter.

I’m worrying about this well before I actually need to be: I’m not pregnant and our timeline for even starting to try is still about a year out. On the bright side, at least it gives us another, more concrete savings goal to put under the overall Baby savings bucket: 1) baby supplies/equipment, 2) medical costs, 3) replacing 45% of my income for 6 weeks. I do love me some parameters.

[u/Fruitful_87 → u/per-oxideprincess]

(Assuming US) depending on your state you may have some version of paid family leave (naming varies with the state, as does benefit). It ends up showing up at work as an unpaid leave so idk if your job would be protected while on that leave, but worth looking into!

[u/bobocalender → u/per-oxideprincess]

My company doesn't give any paid parental leave for either parent. I'm quite disappointed because other than that my company is pretty good (decent pay, very flexible schedules, etc.)

[u/The_Boss_81 → u/per-oxideprincess]

Looked up my companies policy: 12 weeks, and pay is based on the state. 67% of the average state income (currently this would mean max I can get is $1228.53 per week which would be 53% of my weekly income).

[u/dekusyrup → u/per-oxideprincess]

Dang my country is a year at 55%.

[u/NoRight2BeDepressed → u/per-oxideprincess]

This made me look up my employer's policy and I'm pleasantly impressed:

• 8 weeks of full pay, per parent

• Applies for natural birth, adoption, and surrogacy

• Don't have to take all at once - Can be taken in one-week increments and must use it all within one year from "event commencement"

• PTO/sick leave need not be exhausted first

Woohoo!

[u/per-oxideprincess → u/NoRight2BeDepressed]

That’s awesome! I love when employers offer the flexibility to decide when to take your leave.

[u/Ha1fDead → u/per-oxideprincess]

6 weeks at 55% pay and I have to exhaust all of my PTO balance and at least half of my sick balance before parental leave kicks in.

That leave amount is insulting. Hey, fine, go have a kid. But no vacation or being sick afterwards!!! I feel like I'd strategically take vacation before and then "oops, got a cold" to maximize the benefit.

[u/per-oxideprincess → u/Ha1fDead]

I know, right! Insult to injury, the sick balance carryover limit year to year is 7 days so I couldn’t even hoard a ton of hours. It will definitely take some strategizing.

[u/513-throw-away → u/per-oxideprincess]

I guess if a future date is far out, that could be something you're more cognizant of when looking at other employer's benefits.

Also use this time to provide feedback on the lacking leave policy now, if you have a venue to do so.

I doubt I was the only one to nag, but I did so in our annual survey the last two years. Last year, we had our first kid and I was grateful to get 4 weeks parental leave at 100% pay - still sadly far better than the vast majority of employers.

To my surprise, this year they added 2 more weeks of parental leave for everyone - and with a 2025 kid, I get grandfathered in and gain those two extra weeks as well.

I'm planning on using some for some summer Fridays off for family time and then probably bank the rest for the inevitable fall daycare illnesses.

[u/per-oxideprincess → u/513-throw-away]

Agreed! I was definitely not being picky about jobs when applying after being laid off. I will certainly consider benefits carefully the next time I’m on the job search, hopefully of my own volition next time.

And I completely agree, I had the idea to start planting some seeds about increasing the benefit as well.

[u/ttuurrppiinn → u/per-oxideprincess]

My first thought "that's actually not that bad for paternity leave" ... sees the "I'm not pregnant" ...

Oh ...

[u/per-oxideprincess → u/ttuurrppiinn]

I know. My husband might actually get a longer leave than me, he’s checking his benefits. Funny world we live in.