OMLA and FMLA woes...

So, I would be more upset about the whole thing if I didn't *know*, in the back of my head, that all of this information was posted somewhere publicly, for general consumption...

I'm talking, of course, about the Medical and Family Leave Act... Here in the Great NW, we have TWO to choose from, depending on whether you're 6 months into the job or 12 months into the job.

If you're only 6 months, you only qualify for the OMLA (that's the state one). If you're 12 months in the job, then you qualify for both the OMLA and the FMLA (that's the federal one). If you haven't yet reached your 6 months with the company, then you don't get diddly, regardless.

On the upshot, you get a set guaranteed amount of time off, based on need and situation - for instance, if you are having a baby, have reached your 6 months, and you've given sufficient notice to your company that you're going to be having a baby, you can have up to 12 weeks off under OMLA. You can also qualify for an additional 12 weeks off, if proven medically necessary by your doctor OR if a qualifying situation comes up within the next 9 months subsequent to the first 12 weeks. If you've hit the 12 month deal, then you are qualified for both OMLA and FMLA, which normally end up running concurrently (why, I don't know... I'd think it would be consecutive, but what do *I* know). Again, you can qualify for an additional 12 weeks for *either* of the programs, depending on the situation.

Now, here's the interesting part... You can have the time off, but you'll only get paid for it if you have the vacation and sick leave... During that period, you'll still have your normal coverage of health insurance, too. HOWEVER... Once you're out of sick and vacation leave, your health insurance stops as well, and you have to pay for COBRA during the rest of the time you're out, in order to have anything covered. You can apply for short-term disability, but you'll still have to pay for COBRA, as it's not "officially" earned money.

So - it looks as though I will not have the 12 weeks off that was originally planned. We just won't be able to afford it. I will try and get 3 weeks off, but then I'm going to have to go back to work, because there's no way I'll be able to get the money for everything AND for COBRA payments - and there's no way I'll have the vacation or sick time accrued to cover anything more than that. *sigh*

~M