I also recently found out that I can't take maternity leave only having been at my job since March... I must put in my…

If Oklahoma is the same as Arkansas they do not have to give you maternity leave if you haven’t been there a full year. My old employer only gave 4 weeks regardless of the type of birth you had, i had to quit since I did not qualify for maternity leave. I don’t plan on going back to that job they were very biased and fired another employee before she had her baby.

Can't you get fmla papers so they have to keep your job for you?

Yes, like Kayla said, the disability part they have to. At the very end of your pregnancy you are considered disabled and 6 weeks post regular birth and 8weeks post C section. They don’t have to pay you and I’m not sure if your state offers disability, but it’s time that you should have job protection. Not much different than if an employee had to have their appendix removed- it’s surgery! And for the pumping, I would ask to talk to HR- for such a large company they have to have some way to allow it. Do you have a car? You could even put up a sunshade and use a battery operated pump. Or maybe start back at 4 hr shifts? I hope you find a solution! If they are always hiring and you are a good employee, I don’t see why they would not hire you back after- they already know your work ethic- I wouldn’t worry too much about that part, but it does suck you might not get your store back.

I understand the no maternity leave until a year, benefits usually take some time to kick in, although I always thought they kicked in 90 days after you start. I'm sure you were so excited and probably relieved to get the job that you didn't ask, but as you said, you might have taken it anyway, only difference is you'd have been planning what to do from the beginning.

I'm surprised THEY didn't tell you this upon hiring, when they knew you were pregnant. You were open and honest with them, I don't understand why they weren't as transparent with you

You probably can't get maternity leave but they legally have to give you medical leave.

@ek620, I just looked it up. So strange. My bosses would legit close my windows and put a sign up for me. Either an hr lunch or 2 breaks plus your 30 min lunch. 🤔 lol

@messybunmom, Yeah I looked it up earlier to try to help OP. Apparently there’s no federal law for break or meal times (I had no idea) & it’s up to the states. Some states don’t have laws. In OK there are only required breaks and meals for minors.

@babymay2016, 7/11 is a shitty company to work for. So many lawsuits from employees.

@ek620, that’s odd. My jobs had to give me 2 fifteen min breaks plus my 30 min lunch if I work an 8 hr shift. They were always on top of it too.

@mom211n11 @ek620 @mygirlsaretheexception @krs1415 I work for 7-11. But Oklahoma 7-11 is the only one still owned by the original people and seperate from all other 7-11s in the United States.

@mom211n11 Thank you. I really do enjoy my job and today I got my biggest paycheck I've ever had in my lifeeeee. But they work you like a slave and I am appaled at all this and how I can't have maternity leave. Even if you are there for over a year, you only get 6wks UNPAID leave. And the company makes SO MUCH MONEY. Idk how this is how they do it.... Makes no sense. We are literally taking over the gas station business and I see other places closing down on the daily, and more of us popping up. On almost every corner.

@ek620 Wow this makes no sense to me. The company is HUGEEEE. But it is a small store with a one person restroom, a cooler, and a very small backroom. There is nowhere to sit and that's why I make excuses to go outside and sit down for a moment without anyone knowing.

Oh hun I really hope for the best for you ❤

@mom211n11 Yeah I can make an appointment with someone at the office but I'm afraid they will tell me the same thing

@babymay2016, the exemption can only be given to companies with fewer than 50 people

@ek620 I work 8-10hr shifts

They must have that exception then because my district manager said that I would have to clock out and go home, and come back.

Never mind, I see you’re in Oklahoma. Looks like there are no laws giving you lunch breaks. Shitty.

@mygirlsaretheexception Thank you. I'm going to make an appointment with someone at the main office and see what I can do.... But I'm afraid I'll be told the same thing. We are constantly hiring and surely they will already have someone to replace me. They hire people at our main office and basically send you to the store they need you at. You don't get to pick where you are located. I got super lucky and I am at the store closest to my home but that rarely ever happens. I may get hired back but the chances of them taking me back at my store are very slim and I would probably be sent somewhere else.

@babymay2016 can you contact the corporate HR?

@babymay2016, How long are your shifts? It’s illegal to deny you a 15 minute break, and if you’re working an 8 hour shift you are legally entitled to a 30 minute lunch break in most states. What state are you in?

They still have to allow you time for pump breaks once the baby comes. Unless they have exemption

@mom211n11 The company is HUGEEEEEE. But at my specific store we just have 10 employees. 2 people on a shift, the night person is by themselves. We are open 24/7

I looked up info: FMLA is one year and/or 50 or more employees. Pumping at work you are covered hun! I pumped in an office in 2015 when I returned to work after 12 weeks. They have to give you pumping breaks under law.

@babymay2016 if they knowingly hired you over other candidate's after seeing you were pregnant and knowing you wouldn't be there long they were taking a chance on you, it seems. what job do you do? do the employees like you ? go to your supervisor and make a case for why that job is a great fit for you and how you're beneficial to them and why they need you. it can't hurt. give them a timeframe for when you'll be ready to come back and negotiate with them so they don't hire someone else while your gone

@ek620 I work at a gas station and it's always just two people on a shift. We are allowed to eat while we work, there is a one person restroom, and we can take "smoke breaks" ONLY while taking the trash out or sweeping the parking lot.. I take out the trash so I can sit on a milk crate by the trash can for five minutes. Straight up. In the 90 something degree heat, so I can sit my pregnant butt down for a moment. It's kinda nuts. Always busy. No breaks.

@ek620 yes I found that page too lol. Thank you for clarifying this as well!

@mygirlsaretheexception Yeah I was hired March 8th, I already have a 2yr old delivered by c section and they knew I would be having another c section.

I think legally they have to allow you time to pump.

@babymay2016 I think there are laws protecting you on pumping. I'll check. That has to do with the company size too. Is your company at least 50 people?

@babymay2016, What kind of work do you do that you don’t get any breaks? Pump breaks at work are legally covered for most hourly workers.

@babymay2016 they hired you in march knowing you would leave to give birth to your baby?

@babymay2016 ohh I see! Man that is a tough situation. I couldn't imagine. I'm sure it will all work out somehow though. You can only do so much and you're doing what you need to do as a mother and that's the important thing! Hang in there, try not to stress it. Where there's a will there's a way!

@mygirlsaretheexception @krs1415 I wish I knew this before, but at the same time I've never gotten paid so well before and I still would have tried for this job anyways...

@mygirlsaretheexception Yeah, "sucks" doesn't even begin to cover it 😰😰😰

@krs1415 I wish I could get a promise of my job back but the rule is you have to be there a year for maternity leave.... I am working on a backup plan but I get paid super well at my job and won't be finding anywhere else that pays this much. I am scared shitless about it. I asked about when I take leave and I was told anything over 30days has to be FMLA approved and you have to be there a year to qualify. I can put my two weeks in, seperate from the company, and try to get hired back. Also I won't be able to breastfeed basically. We get no breaks, and you have to physically clock out and go home to breast feed and come back.

definitely get a back up plan ! legally, since you haven't been there a year yet the company isn't required to protect or hold your job for you which sucks

Ehhhhh that sounds sketchy. I would need something in writing. I would be afraid it would end in some sort of discrimination in the end. I'd also get a backup plan just in case.