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Post by ferdinand on May 5, 2014 10:08:52 GMT -5
I have a bit of a unique problem I'm hoping those of you who are current ALJs or insiders can give me some insight on (I'm an outsider). If I am lucky enough to be selected for one of the 20 locations I'm on the cert for, I will be 6-7 months pregnant when the job starts in August or September. Obviously, I won't have been there very long when I have the baby. How would SSA handle this? I'm an outsider with no accrued federal leave, and I won't have been there long enough to take FMLA. Alternatively, if I opt out this time and decline all 20 locations, will I somehow be struck from future certs? It's taken so long to get to this point that I'm loathe to take that route. Thanks in advance for any insight.
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Post by agilitymom on May 5, 2014 10:22:15 GMT -5
Why would you do that? Why would you strike yourself. You can always be placed in Leave Without Pay Status due to medical reasons. The Federal Government can accommodate...I wouldn't think twice about it.
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Post by ferdinand on May 5, 2014 10:26:50 GMT -5
Thanks! I didn't know leave without pay was an option. How long will they generally let you do that? I did work for the federal government briefly as a law clerk (I wasn't under the Leave Act), and I would get emails about donating leave to people. Would I be eligible for that? I have family members and friends who are federal employees with a lot of leave who I'm sure would be willing to donate some.
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Post by agilitymom on May 5, 2014 10:32:13 GMT -5
You can be on leave without pay for extended periods of time. The nice thing about leave donation is that you would actually get paid and be accruing service credit. There are limitations on transferring leave:
An employee may transfer leave to an employee of another agency only when:
* The donor is a family member employed by another agency;
*The leave recipient's agency believes that leave donations within the agency may not be sufficient to meet the recipient's needs; or
*The leave recipient's agency concludes that the transfer of leave from another agency furthers the purpose of the voluntary leave transfer program.
You can obtain more information on the OPM website.
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Post by 71stretch on May 5, 2014 10:34:09 GMT -5
I agree with those who say you should go ahead, but just to answer your other question, if you decline all those cities you are taking them off your GAL for future purposes, but other than shrinking your GAL, such action would have no effect on your eligibility for future certs.
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Post by crab on May 5, 2014 10:44:46 GMT -5
No advice, just congrats on both counts! Good luck!
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Post by ok1956 on May 5, 2014 10:45:30 GMT -5
No advice, just congrats on both counts! Good luck! Ditto on both counts!
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Post by mch135 on May 5, 2014 10:45:37 GMT -5
Just wanted to let you know that I am in the exact same boat as you, I'm due in December and have been stressed because this is such bad timing. But I figure this job is a once in a lifetime type opportunity so I'm not striking any cities.
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Post by ok1956 on May 5, 2014 10:46:38 GMT -5
Just wanted to let you know that I am in the exact same boat as you, I'm due in December and have been stressed because this is such bad timing. But I figure this job is a once in a lifetime type opportunity so I'm not striking any cities. Congrats and good luck!
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Post by prescient on May 5, 2014 10:49:00 GMT -5
You can also have both sick and annual leave advanced.
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Post by anotherfed on May 5, 2014 11:10:52 GMT -5
Is there a Board baby boom? Congrats to both ferdinand and mch135! There's got to be an online store somewhere that sells Mommy and Baby matching black robes...
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Post by gary on May 5, 2014 11:14:13 GMT -5
Is there a Board baby boom? Congrats to both ferdinand and mch135! There's got to be an online store somewhere that sells Mommy and Baby matching black robes... Maternity robes are very flattering to the pregnant figure. Sort of like black muumuus.
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Post by anotherfed on May 5, 2014 11:28:08 GMT -5
Is there a Board baby boom? Congrats to both ferdinand and mch135! There's got to be an online store somewhere that sells Mommy and Baby matching black robes... Maternity robes are very flattering to the pregnant figure. Sort of like black muumuus. Actually, you wouldn't need a maternity wardrobe ... just wear your robe and whatever is comfy underneath.
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Post by Malice Aforethought on May 5, 2014 11:44:17 GMT -5
Don't let that stop you. LWOP and/or advanced leave may be available to you. Plus, ODAR is very family friendly. And another judge in an earlier class was pregnant when she started, too. It's all okay.
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Post by ferdinand on May 6, 2014 9:08:08 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone! This makes me feel much better!
And congrats to you, mch135! I'm due in November. I'm sorry you've been stressed, but I'm glad I'm not the only one in this boat!
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Post by luckylady2 on May 6, 2014 10:52:18 GMT -5
Definitely, don't strike yourself from consideration! SSA has dealt with pregnant women and maternity before, there will be a way to work it out.
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Post by luckylady2 on May 6, 2014 10:57:26 GMT -5
No, I'm not a current ALJ or an insider, but I did have 12 years in federal government and had a baby during that time....
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Post by ok1956 on May 6, 2014 11:07:02 GMT -5
Definitely, don't strike yourself from consideration! SSA has dealt with pregnant women and maternity before, there will be a way to work it out. And I will say that having raised my children while in a very active private practice and trying to make partner in a major law firm (at least for crapland), I would have loved the opportunity to have a job where the employer had actually dealt with pregnant women (who weren't just wives of an employee at any rate) and maternity! All that to say, stay in the game! And to all the soon-to-be Mommies, congratulations!
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Post by luckylady2 on May 6, 2014 11:09:35 GMT -5
If nothing else, in the end, if you have to turn down a job, it's better to turn it down after they offer it to you, not before!
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Post by anotherfed on May 6, 2014 12:30:52 GMT -5
If nothing else, in the end, if you have to turn down a job, it's better to turn it down after they offer it to you, not before! I understand the spirit of lucklady2's advice, but keep in mind that in this screwy process, if you turn down an offer, you will never be considered for that location again (only for the life of the Register, I hope). If there is a real reason (need to be close to family, medical care, etc) to strike a location, do it. But if you're just worried about the leave situation, don't shut down the dream. Things can be worked out. Babies R Us does mail-order, even to East Crapland.
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