Even though I had to burn all my vacation time, I took 3 weeks leave for my first a couple years ago, and it was great. I want to do the same thing next year for my second, but in addition to the first three weeks, which would completely exhuast my available vacation time for the year, I want to take an additional two week unpaid period a month later, and then another two week unpaid period a month after that. Those would be really helpful to give my wife a break and get more kiddo time myself.
We are lucky enough to able to afford this and it fits within FMLA rules, but because it's not a continuous block of time, and it fits under the child bonding category, the ability to break up the leave is not guaranteed by FMLA…it is the discretion of the employer.
Welp I asked my boss to give me this one simple thing…unpaid…and the answer is no. I can only take one block of time. It can be the full 12 weeks guaranteed by FMLA, but has to be one block of time.
So that's it. It would naturally be easier for all parties in terms of impact to work, and benefit to family, but they would rather I spend 12 weeks away rather than 7 weeks spread out over a couple months.
I feel like calling their bluff.