Work vent/rant/need some advice

[snippet17]

PDQ. And sorry I am ramble a bit like usual. There are so many things going through my mind.

So my PM talked to me yesterday and he said that the owners and their lawyer are concerned about me working up to my due date.  Right now their lawyer stated it is a good idea for them to not let me use a ladder which is fine with me. And he did let me know that for safety reasons they are more likely not going to let me work until my due date since I am a field employee not an office employee. Which I understand. The bad thing is that I could see that occurring in 2 weeks. I say 2 weeks being due to me finishing all of the current CAD that needs to be done and getting lifting limitations at my next appointment. Which is would be 4 weeks from my due date. 

I know I cannot apply for unemployment during maternity leave, but do you think I should ask my boss if they will allow me to apply for it since they are not going to let me work due to safety concerns? IDK, H and I were talking about it last night discussing the pros and cons to asking. I would not just apply for unemployment without talking to them first. The last person that did that they made her life a living hell with her schedule after her one week without pay.

We will be able for WIC for the 2.5 months if I do not get the unemployment. If I would get unemployment we would have too much income to qualify. I wish they would let you sub out the peanut butter since that is not allowed in my house, but at least the rest of the food would work. Specially the eggs, fruit, and formula for 6 weeks after the baby is born.

Either way we are not eligible for snap or LIHEAP by about 2-4K a year with just H's salary.

Between this and traveling for work on Monday until Wednesday was giving me cramps and other issues. Luckily, I am not having the issues again today because if I was the emergency through my doctor said to go to the hospital. 

Doesn't help that we have other things going wrong, too. H's xrays were fine, so we won't know what the next thing will be for his back until his appointment on Tuesday. They gave H pains meds at his last appointment, but they do not last. They are for 12 hours and they maybe last him 4 hours. 

Watching videos of Tian Tian hasn't really cheered me up and I watched it a million times. www.facebook.com/nationalzoo/videos/vb.32235087901/10153837445042902/?type=2&theater 

[gingerlady]

I'm sorry - this sounds like it blows. Like people have said above, I'd ask about short term disability first. It's possible that your employer doesn't provide it, unfortunately, but it's definitely worth asking. Also, try calling your OB office and asking if you have access to a social worker through them. They often can be really helpful and know the system really well, including which types of services you may qualify for. There may also be a social worker at the hospital when you deliver, and you can ask to meet with them then too. There may be other services beyond WIC that you could take advantage of.

[Deleted]

I think you'd be more likely to get disability than unemployment.

[snippet17]

@jennylee - The owner that has to handle unemployment hates the extra paperwork. I know lame and dumb excuse.

@daubachsgirl23 - I had a co-worker who was on crutches due to getting injured playing deck hockey he didn't work for the most part. I know for awhile he was not able to drive. They did give him reports and cad to do, which the plan to do for me, but there is only so much work when it comes to that.

No short term disability. My company has only 4 people in our office (project manager and 3 field staff) and 10 (including 3 owners) full time staff in the Michigan office.

@lolo - The bf during leave is what I hope or plan on doing. H is not a fan of it, but it will save us money.

ravenclanna - We have one filing cabinet and there is plenty of old files that need to be shredded and new ones/larger projects that need to be filed away. I can do bid documents, cad, and reports that go to clients. The bad thing we were slow for awhile so we are caught up on reports and cad except for very recent small projects

gingerlady - H works for non-profit so H knows of a ton of programs. He got a decent size raise last year that takes us out of a lot of the other types of programs.

A plus side is that the other two employees in my office started in November and are still lost on some items. One thing my pm plans on me doing more of is a walk through on jobs with them since he has been busy with meetings, etc. Plus it means that they will hopefully be calling him less with small questions. I do have sick days and vacation days saved up.