Underemployed?

[DawnPlusTwo]

Oklahoma.

First I want to thank you all for all of the wonderful advice this far. I appreciate it so much!

This should just be a quick painless question! I hope.

I plan to work as long as I can before this new little one is born. And pending my recovery from the c-section, and a few other factors I plan to return to work about two weeks after baby is born.

When child support was figured last year, dad was unemployed, and currently still is (or at least no verifiable income) and the woman I work for (I guess I am considered self employed) wrote a statement of my earnings, based on about 53 hours a week.

When I return to work, I will be working about 40 hours a week. Can Dad say that I am voluntarily underemployed? I know how it usually goes with voluntarily getting pregnant, having the baby, etc... But since I will still work full time hours, will that matter? Or just that I am choosing to not work the extra hours every week? Is it possible I would be imputed an income of the 53 hours a week that CS was originally figured on? Totally fine, either way, just sort of curious on what I should expect.

I am not planning to ask for a modification based on my lesser income or anything, but Dad's mind works in mysterious ways, so I'm not really sure what he would try to do.

Thanks folks

 

[Isis1]

i'm going to say NO!

from my understanding, underemployed is deliberately working at a less than normal wage per hour OR deliberately working less then 40 hours per week. sometimes, overtime just isn't available anymore.

 

[texastepmom]

wait a sec, you are going back to work 2 weeks after a c-section? full time? wow, i don't see how any logical person could see that as slacking... do you really have to go back that quickly? best wishes to you, you are much stronger than me, no way could i have done that.

 

[ecmst12]

Doctors usually recommend taking off at least four weeks after a c-section. I know times are hard and everyone is struggling, but please be careful and don't injure yourself! If you are rushing to go back to work based on fear of what your crazy ex will say, I really don't think you have to worry. Every judge in family court must have heard of his antics by now, his credibility will be totally in the toilet. And dragging you into court right after you give birth will only make him look worse.

 

[texastepmom]

i agree with ecmst12... don't forget to take care of yourself! my short term disability allowed for 8 weeks of leave after a c-section, please take more time if you can.

 

[Isis1]

wait a sec, you are going back to work 2 weeks after a c-section? full time? wow, i don't see how any logical person could see that as slacking... do you really have to go back that quickly? best wishes to you, you are much stronger than me, no way could i have done that.

i just reread and saw that!

hey!!! now you make me look bad for taking my full THREE months after a non-c section

 

[CJane]

Man, I returned to work 3 DAYS after I had Twain, but I was completely hosed as far as time off, AND he was a totally normal birth (except for the whole 3-weeks early part) AND I could take him to work WITH me.

No way I'd return to work just 2 weeks after major abdominal surgery.

 

[LdiJ]

Man, I returned to work 3 DAYS after I had Twain, but I was completely hosed as far as time off, AND he was a totally normal birth (except for the whole 3-weeks early part) AND I could take him to work WITH me.

No way I'd return to work just 2 weeks after major abdominal surgery.

I went to work 8 days later, but as well, I could take her to work with me.

However, that didn't end up being an ideal situation. I seriously couldn't do my job with a baby hanging on me. So what happened was that the women in the warehouse were constantly snagging my baby and setting her up in the middle of the order table in the warehouse. So my daughter was getting cooed over while the orders were being filled. The women in the warehouse loved that and so did my daughter.

Unfortunately OSHA didn't like that one at all.

 

[DawnPlusTwo]

wait a sec, you are going back to work 2 weeks after a c-section? full time? wow, i don't see how any logical person could see that as slacking... do you really have to go back that quickly? best wishes to you, you are much stronger than me, no way could i have done that.

Monetarily speaking, I don't absolutely have to go back to work at all. My husband-to-be would prefer that I don't work... But bringing two other children into the marriage who aren't his gives me an obligatory feeling.

 

[DawnPlusTwo]

Doctors usually recommend taking off at least four weeks after a c-section. I know times are hard and everyone is struggling, but please be careful and don't injure yourself! If you are rushing to go back to work based on fear of what your crazy ex will say, I really don't think you have to worry. Every judge in family court must have heard of his antics by now, his credibility will be totally in the toilet. And dragging you into court right after you give birth will only make him look worse.

In some ways, my fears are based on him dragging me into court... But then my brain kicks in, and I think "Well... He is still unemployed after 16 months, me working a few less hours is better than not working at all..."

 

[DawnPlusTwo]

i just reread and saw that!

hey!!! now you make me look bad for taking my full THREE months after a non-c section

I took 4 months will my daughter, and 3 months with my son Nothing wrong with some R&R. Actually R&R and maternity leave are pretty much an oxymoron

 

[texastepmom]

Monetarily speaking, I don't absolutely have to go back to work at all. My husband-to-be would prefer that I don't work... But bringing two other children into the marriage who aren't his gives me an obligatory feeling.

oh honey!!! take 3 months of maternity leave, DO NOT let your ex have anything to do with your decision about when to go back to work!!! and let the new hubby help you... you can always go back to work someday, you will never get your first few baby months back. you need to think about YOU, not about your ex or your percieved obligations. what would you want for your daughter were she in your shoes?

 

[Proserpina]

Oh dear lawdy...

...in England, you go back to work about 6 months - yes, that's not weeks, that's MONTHS - after having your baby.

Some companies offer a year.

This is PAID maternity leave, btw...

 

[DawnPlusTwo]

Man, I returned to work 3 DAYS after I had Twain, but I was completely hosed as far as time off, AND he was a totally normal birth (except for the whole 3-weeks early part) AND I could take him to work WITH me.

No way I'd return to work just 2 weeks after major abdominal surgery.

My job is very relaxed. VERY. I sit with an elderly lady in her home. She is bed ridden. Just about all I do here is administer her tube feedings, dump her cath bag, and turn her from side to side every 2 hours (except between 10pm and 6am). The most physically demanding task is the turning from side to side. My mom and future MIL work with her also (24/7 care) and they are more than willing to come turn her for me. I also bring the kiddos with me most nights.

I'd more or less be going back to save the burden from my boss. My mom will cover my hours while I am off. Boss is hesitant to hire ANYone new to care for her mother. She doesn't want to just hire someone off the street and have them hurt her mother, or steal from her, etc...

 

[DawnPlusTwo]

Oh dear lawdy...

...in England, you go back to work about 6 months - yes, that's not weeks, that's MONTHS - after having your baby.

Some companies offer a year.

This is PAID maternity leave, btw...

Ok... So this brings about another question.

Umm... Do you think it would be a problem for me to relocate Son to England with me? No biggie, right? Wonder how move-away friendly Oklahoma is