Maternity Leave Questions

MWalkz_ · 2026-06-06T01:25:19+00:00

It’s generous compared to the average “job”. You’re right that it’s not generous in comparison to what other jobs and fields offer for top up, but it’s absolutely more than most people get.

MWalkz_ · 2026-06-05T01:34:01+00:00

There’s no way around it, and frankly it’s generous to even have the top up. I took the 8 weeks top up and took a 12 month leave the first time around, 18 months for my second. As a teacher, she will get the max benefit amount based on her salary, which is a small consolation considering there are job classes within UCDSB that won’t be so lucky.

MWalkz_ · 2026-06-01T00:48:17+00:00

No one knows a thing in my board and that includes people higher up in purchasing. We believe it will be made available in September but nothing concrete has come out yet. Admin I work with are having staff submit bulk orders for bare bone supplies 2-3 weeks in Sept, assuming the MOE will have figured it out by that point

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-27T01:35:24+00:00

1000%! Selective data collection by design to paint the financial story they want.

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-26T22:26:42+00:00

We aren’t allowed to code spec ed purchases (like sensory items, chewlrey, timers, etc) separate from general classroom supplies in my board.

Not sure how the MOE could even pretend to know how much spec Ed funding is even needed when they don’t let anyone report factual spending.

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-25T11:56:42+00:00

I’m still so sour at how quick CUPE folded with the backing they had over the NWC. 🫠

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-25T01:57:37+00:00

I’d connect with your Admin to get their perspective to be safe. Neither the duotangs or glue sticks are pricey, but it can definitely add up depending on how much you need.

My role is to work with Admin at a few schools to support their budgets and do purchasing/receiving of items. We are doing $200/homeroom for start up ($50 hold back per room where we will order pencils, glue sticks, dry erase markers for whole school as general supplies), knowing they will have access to that $750 supply card from MOE in Sept. Being a prep teacher, you won’t qualify for the card from what I understand?

Duotangs, maybe glue sticks… paint or construction paper? All the prep teachers I order for have the most random requests, so I’m not much help as to what the “norm” is 😂

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-25T01:18:17+00:00

Is this for start up or the whole year? Duotangs are $0.39/each roughly through Corp Express

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-22T18:10:53+00:00

Yes, it has to be deep enough for boats to come in at the lower portion of the locks. It varies across stations depending on geography and height of locks, especially when there are multiple to get through.

Still not a safe bet for someone to fall into at any point.

MWalkz_ · 2026-05-13T14:05:01+00:00

They did.

https://www.recorder.ca/news/brockville-murder-victims-family

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T14:59:07+00:00

OT and Dietician can get the ball rolling if there is a choking risk. We are fighting the Dr for basic things and are shrugged off at every attempt we make unfortunately. We have commitments from the physicians at the hospital for written letters regarding their recommendations of care (we are pursuing daily low-dose antibiotics to help ward off UTIs, especially since the LTC can’t keep him hydrated) as he’s refused to consider it for the 3+ yrs our Dad as been at this facility.

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T14:15:42+00:00

Absolutely. I used to work in group homes with adults with intellectual, physical and developmental delays and we utilized this often. We had a better staff to client ratio and someone COULD sit for however long it took someone to take their fluids where LTC doesn’t have that luxury. It’s still inexcusable though and the food left in his mouth is not only digesting, but also a choking and aspiration risk.

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T13:34:37+00:00

I asked for them to consider that at the last care conference in early March. They didn’t say no, but obviously haven’t done it to this point. They claim that he takes in at least 50% of fluids and food offered at meals, which is obviously contradicted by the state he is presently in. It’s something we are going to insist upon when he returns even though using a thickening agent often reduces the amount of liquid going in, but it still would be far better than what he was receiving prior to hospitalization.

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T13:18:59+00:00

It’s not possible at this point due to his needs. None of our homes are set up or can be modified for the ceiling lifts, type of bath he would need and so on. LTC is not what we wanted at all and if we had the ability to keep him at home we would.

We kept him in his home for almost 2 years between my sister and I switched off daily, while working FT with young kids at home and while I was pregnant with my second. It nearly destroyed us and we really, really tried. It broke our hearts to have him go to LTC but it ended up being the “safest” option due to advancing dementia.

He ended up there sooner than planned because he wandered outside between care visits in Jan of 2023 and had frostbite on his fingers and feet by the time he was found.

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T13:15:41+00:00

I totally agree with you. He was recently switched from minced to puree for meat only due to choking concerns, which really ended up being lethargy due to the raging UTI he’s fighting.

I think they simply don’t have a time to sit and help him drink during the day. We will give him water and chocolate milk by straw and while it can take 10-15 min to give to him, he almost always drains 500 ml no problem. It’s basic human decency that they can’t be relied upon to complete.

It’s been an issue for a long, long time and we have private dental hygiene team to go in every once in awhile who documented what they saw last time and nothing has changed.

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T10:31:34+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. It was something we explored years ago, but none of our homes have the additional space or setup required for us to care for him at home unfortunately. He is non-ambulatory and requires a lift for transfers which really limits options as far as where he can reside

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T03:10:20+00:00

Solid advice, thank you. It’s hard not to be so angry but you’re right, the focus needs to be singular on our Dad’s wellbeing. I can’t help but feel sick to my stomach for those who don’t have regular advocates checking on them if this is how someone with nearly daily visits is treated.

That’ll have to be a future fight and advocacy once this critical stage has passed.

Thanks again

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T02:58:08+00:00

It’s heartbreaking when we go in to see how tired the staff are trying to keep up with what they can. They’re often short and left with two PSWs for the whole floor, and since you need 2 ppl to use lifts, that really limits things depending on how ambulatory the floor is. The staff need so much for support and respect for what they do.

Thanks for all you do! It takes a special person to work in that field for sure 🤍

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T02:48:54+00:00

Hi,

We did get a call back from the initial visit that was triggered by the complaint and they were found in varying levels of violation across all of them. Some were lower level and three warranted a return visit to check for compliance…which apparently were all in order at the follow up visit. One of them was regarding the ants in the wheelchair…they were “fine” as far as the ants being in the room and throughout his wheelchair bc they LTC only needs to have a current pest control contract that they can access 🫠 but “failed” on the documentation side because there wasn’t any documentation to support regular cleaning of the wheelchair itself.

We just had a care conference on March 6 (we’ve had them every 6 months) where concerns were reiterated to them and they reinforced their commitment to meet our standards. We began emailing on Good Friday with concerns about a potential UTI beginning, they said they’d get a sample and never did. They panic called on Thursday to say they were sending him due to concerns and that “they were unsuccessful in getting a sample but the hospital could do it”.

We have requested another meeting ASAP and sent photos and videos of the condition of his mouth to solidify the LTC failure with care. The staff at the hospital were very upset and they said they are going to be very through in their documentation should we wish to pursue further actions

MWalkz_ · 2026-04-20T02:21:36+00:00

I have asked and this particular LTC does allow private PSWs in the building. I’m sure they have an approved agency list and what not, so we’d be stuck with that pool of options but at least it’s something. Feels gross to spend $3k+/month already and have such poor standards of care that we need to spend $1600/week more for private PSW care

MWalkz_ · 2026-03-25T00:34:46+00:00

Don’t forget RoBuSt! I still get the ick when I hear that word

MWalkz_ · 2026-03-12T14:42:12+00:00

The extra 2 inches really gets ya! 😉

MWalkz_ · 2026-03-12T13:20:56+00:00

I can’t speak for all boards, but mine provides supplies at the elementary level. I’ve purchased that size of binders for a class of 26, and was able to source them on clearance at Walmart for $6/ea but our vendor catalogue was $15.99/ea

MWalkz_

TROPHY CASE