My Wife Is Refusing To Go On Maternity Leave

Brad's wife is about to give birth, but she doesn't want to go on maternity leave. Her company allows her to take time, but she feels like her job is too important and says she wants to go back within two weeks at the most to working. Brad feels like she should take more time to recover and bond with the new baby, but she isn't budging.

Jonathan: Today for panic button we have Brad. Hey Brad.

Brad: Hey, good morning.

Jonathan: Now Danielle Brad’s problem is that his wife thinks she's like, just the toughest duck possible. What's going on there, Brad?

Danielle: Mm-hmm.

Brad: Well, we're expecting in a little bit here.

Jonathan: Congratulations.

Brad: We thank you. I appreciate that. We're excited about it. It's going to be our first child. But the thing is that my wife doesn't want to take maternity leave.

Danielle: Really?

Brad:  She wants to have the baby, stay home, recuperate for two weeks and then get right back into going back to work because she thinks her job is really important. And I think that  she's a little crazy because she works at a bank. They'll be perfectly fine without her. People will still be able to figure out how to make deposits and withdrawals.

Danielle: Hmm.

Brad: Yeah, but she's committed to getting right back into. It. Two weeks after and I just don't see that going very well.

Jonathan: I'm assuming she's a manager at the bank or something.

Brad: She's a higher up. I don't know exactly if the title is manager.

Jonathan: Branch manager?

Brad: Yeah, something like that.

Jonathan: You don't know the job title your wife has?

Brad: I would say manager-esque like level. Like the same level as a manager.

Danielle: Right, assistant to the regional manager.

Jonathan: All right, so she wants to just go back to work. After how many weeks?

Brad: Two. She's just taking her two weeks off. And then she's going right back.

Jonathan: Two weeks. Now, is the job offering her maternity leave? Or are they saying. No, you can't leave?

Brad: No. They're 100% offering her maternity leave.  Take as long as you want.

Danielle: OK.

Brad: That's why I think she's a little crazy because of that right there.

Danielle: Hope she doesn't have to have a. C-section. That's going to be a little rough.

Jonathan: Yeah, right. I mean, I'm assuming the pregnancy is going well.  There hasn't been talk of that right? Or should she be reconsidering it? Is this your first kid?

Brad: Yep.

Jonathan: OK first. Very good. Alright. Well, I don't know. I don't have any other questions other than is she nuts or just the toughest human being?

Danielle: Is she nuts?

Jonathan: Yeah, seriously. Brad's problem is his wife is about to give birth and she's a manager at the bank. She doesn't want to take maternity leave. In fact, she is planning on working from home as soon as possible and then going back to work after a couple of weeks. Is that even possible?

Danielle: Maybe you didn't have a choice.

Jonathan: Definitely want to hear from women who maybe have taken short maternity leaves on this. Brad, thank you so much.

Each morning Jonathan and Ayla talks to someone about a problem that they need advice on. Then we take calls from all of you
Check out the advice and stories we heard this morning here:

Click here to vote in our twitter poll
Then check back in and see what everyone thinks they should do
And be sure to follow us on twitter

We Do The Panic Button every day beginning at 7:10 AM
Tune in and listen every day: