De’Leisa – Paid Time Off Enables Recovery From Illness

Prior to my current role, I was with a company that did not offer maternity or sick leave. You either had to utilize your PTO or short-term disability. As a Director, I always brought this issue up to corporate. It’s a billion dollar corporation—they need to invest in their people. Most women leave once they know they will have children, which contributed to why I left the organization, but I loved the work I was doing.

Fast forward, in my new job I was sick on and off for three weeks. If I were still with my other company, I would have stayed sick longer because I would not have had the time to heal properly. At my new job, I was able to focus on making doctor appointments and getting better. I took a huge pay cut, but the benefits like sick leave are so appreciated and make up for that pay cut!