I live in Philadelphia and I am currently 20wks pregnant with Twins. I have been told by my doctor not to expect to be working after 30wks if not before. So far everything has gone well. However, I am a secretary in a Law Firm that has only 12 employees, July was two years I have been with this firm. I am concerned about being put on bedrest and what rights do I have to get short-term disability? We do not have a company handbook and although there is an office in New Jersey there are no other employees. I know they offer 6wks leave without pay. Anything I could do? Thank you.

anyone?? I guess there is nothing I can do??

Well, you could try having a little patience. :) This is a volunteer board, we answer questions on our own time and it is the weekend, after all. ;)

Whether you are entitled to any disability depends entirely on whether or not your employer offers such a plan, which is mandatory in New Jersey but optional in Pennsylvania. You would not qualify under the NJ plan since it is through the state. If your employer offers a disability plan to PA employers and you are eligible for it, you can apply under that. If no such plan is offered, then any time your employer offers you will be unpaid.

Since your employer does not have enough employees to qualify under FMLA and since PA has no applicable mandated leave, you are entitled only to the same amount of time off that would be granted to any employee with a non-maternity condition.

Yeah I'm impatient. Anyways that sucks, I pretty much wasted two years at a place that when I'm forced to go on bedrest will get no paycheck. That's gonna be fun! I highly doubt they offer disablilty. Now that I think about it that's probably the reason on of the secretaries didn't come back after giving birth. I just wanted to know if I could get it without them actually offering it. Thanks.