Prompt 22: The Maternity Leave Planning Sheet
When to use it
You want to plan your leave: how long, when to start, what to tell your employer, what state/country benefits you're entitled to, and how to financially plan.
The Prompt
I'm [N] weeks pregnant, due [DATE]. I want to plan my maternity leave.
My situation:
- Country/state: [E.G., "California US" / "Texas US" / "UK" / "Germany" / "Canada"]
- Job: [E.G., "salaried corporate" / "hourly" / "freelance" / "1099 contractor"]
- How long I want to take: [E.G., "12 weeks" / "6 months" / "1 year" / "I have no idea"]
- Partner's leave situation: [E.G., "6 weeks paid" / "none" / "undecided"]
- Financial situation: [E.G., "I can survive on 60% pay" / "I need full pay" / "we have savings for 3 months"]
- Work identity: [E.G., "I love my job and want to return" / "I'm ambivalent" / "I don't want to return"]
Please give me:
1. What I'm legally entitled to (state + federal + employer policy)
2. When to start leave (EDD - 6 weeks for vaginal, EDD - 8 weeks for scheduled C-section is medical baseline)
3. How to maximize paid leave (combining sick, vacation, parental leave, short-term disability, state benefits)
4. The conversation with my employer (what to ask, when, what's negotiable)
5. The "what if I want to come back part-time" plan (because thinking about this BEFORE baby is easier)
6. What to document (for HR, for me, for taxes)
7. The financial runway calculator (income, expenses, savings, partner income, benefits)
8. What I'm forgetting (because I'm sure there's something)
Important: I want a real plan, not just "you'll figure it out."Example output
*"US baseline: FMLA gives 12 weeks unpaid, job-protected if you work for a covered employer (50+ employees, 12+ months tenure). State: CA has Paid Family Leave (8 weeks @ ~60-70% pay) + SDI (6-8 weeks for birth recovery). TX has only federal protections. Combine: 6-8 weeks SDI (medical, vaginal birth) + 8 weeks PFL (bonding) = 14-16 weeks partially paid. Start leave at EDD or earlier if OB clears. Talk to HR at 28 weeks to lock in dates. Doc everything in email. If freelance: there's no paid leave — plan for self-funded 8-12 weeks minimum. Come-back part-time: ask for it BEFORE leave starts; harder to negotiate while out."*
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