Part 3

This gives me hope for the other situations...

Maternity Leave
I did not sleep well on Thursday night and I felt like calling in sick on Friday, because I was so tired. In the middle of the night I thought to myself, "I have to figure this out!" I had not arranged when I would go on maternity leave, because I was trying to find help with some built up hours I had. No one seemed to have answers. I first wanted to work until 34 weeks, then I changed to 32 weeks, but last week I was feeling like it should be sooner, as in NOW. So in the night I said a simple prayer (halfway in sleep), "Lord, help me get this figured out."

Friday morning at work I thought, "I should ask my client, she is a smart lawyer and a good Belgian, maybe she knows." So I asked, "Do you happen to know about educatief verlof (supposedly for my hours of dutch class this year, I can change them in for work hours AND BE PAID, but my boss didn't know how to do it). She said, "Well, yes." And explained it to me. She said I have to use the 120 hours before the end of the school year and that my boss is obligated to give me them no matter what!

I did some quick calculations and figured that I need to start them soon in order to be able to use them all, so I went to my company after and talked to the secretary lady, because my boss was gone. I figured I just have 2 weeks left and after that, with those hours, I will be paid for all my normal hours until the end of June! Then my maternity leave can start for 15 weeks. I was worried if she would think that was too soon or complain, but she said she would talk to my boss about getting a replacement and that she thinks it is probably time for the baby's sake that I stop.

I was very relieved, thankful and happy, especially when I found out that I had only about 20 more hours of work!

I go tomorrow afternoon to figure everything out with my boss. Paperwork/scheduling/etc. I am praying that everything will go well. I do not want conflict, but I am willing to be pushy for what I have earned!