Dear Mr. Dad: My wife is due to give birth in a few months and I’m trying to work something out with my employer to take some leave after the baby is born. What’s a good amount of time to take off?
A: Great question — one that, unfortunately, has no single answer that will work for everyone. That said, I recommend that you take off as much as you’re able to without jeopardizing your job or your family’s finances.
Your first order of business is to do some research into what types of legally mandated leave programs you’re eligible for. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides many employees — as of 2018, about 56%, according to United States Department of Labor data — with 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. In addition, 13 states and the District of Columbia have passed paid family leave laws.
