I just have a quick question about the law in Texas for maternity leave. I have worked for this company for a year an half now which employees on average 27-30 people at a time. I was recently informed that I would not be getting any paid maternity leave. Is this legal? There is nothing in our employee handbook about maternity leave or pregnancy so I don't know what the law is. I'm already having problems with the owner of the company( which I have another thread about called ( Is this considered discrimination- Texas)and I dont know if this is just another one of the owner's "stunts" he is trying to pull with me. Please help!! Thanks sooo much!

There is no law in Texas (nor federal) that requires paid medical leave of any type for any reason, even maternity. And since your employer doesn't have at least 50 employees, they are not required to provide FMLA leave (which is unpaid, for a maximum of 12 weeks per year) for medical complications due to the pregnancy, pre-natal visits, birth, and bonding after the birth.

Unless you have enrolled in a company sponsored disability plan or have purchased individual disability coverage on your own (Texas does not have a state disability program), you have no expectation of pay for when you are out. Even with disability coverage, you would only have income replacement when you are medically unable to work, or whatever the plan provides for when the medical condition is pregnancy and childbirth. Sorry.

BTW, only five states have state disability plans, and only one state requires paid family leave.

Thanks so much for ya'lls help!