At company A (not Snapchat anymore), and previous company B (also not Snapchat) has been trying to get me to go back and I have been toying with the idea. But basically A vs B boils down to my faith in each company’s future and what I really would love is some sort of numerical that would make it an easy decision. Like 2x salary or something ;) Anyways, my spouse and I just found out we are pregnant. Pretty easy to do some Googling and find out company A is offering 17 weeks paid leave and company B only provides 6... and I start thinking that maybe this can be the crux of my A vs B decision. I’ve always been jealous of those who take the “mid-career break” — 6 months between jobs or something. Well, 17 weeks is almost 4 months... so I am imagining some epic baby-bonding time. Wait until the baby is 6 months old, then... Maybe find an apartment in Europe and go exploring everyday. Buy a trailer and visit every National Park, visit every state. Find a remote cabin and go off the grid and finally read all those books... Is this crazy talk? Has anyone done something similar? Am I missing some sort of gotcha? I know some companies have these unwritten rules about not taking all the offered new parent time, but if A decides to make a stink about it or “punishes” me when I get back, couldn’t I just jump to B? Feels like it could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks.
You should look into when you can take those 17 weeks. They might require you to start your leave with the birth of your baby. In which case you will not be traipsing through Europe.
Also check if you can take all at once
Take care of the newborn.. paternity is not vacation
You can leave the back with its grandparents.
The only gotcha will be when you realize the reality of Parenthood.
Just put my 20 month old back in the crib at 3am after an hour of feeding milk plus rocking etc. This post made me crack. Thank you OP for the laughs
You're clearly not ready to have a baby!
Read up on what the first week/month with baby looks like. Also read up on how long it takes a woman to achieve minimal recovery after birth.
Assuming you’re US-based, healthcare costs while funemployed can be quite the shocker, even with COBRA. A lot of folks I know who’ve taken a break were young and healthy and just rolled the dice on minimal or no coverage. Can’t do that with a baby.
hahaha, first baby right? bro, after your a parent work=vacation
Family bonding time > bullshit corporate upleveling Enjoy the new life you brought into the world. Congratulations and see the world TOGETHER before you are tied down for their kindergarten. That said, you’re a dick for thinking of a vacation away from a newborn.