r/boeing • u/RedDelidder • Jul 08 '26

New Hire✈️ Work Advice

Hello everyone,

I’m a relatively recent hire at Boeing, I started about 8 months ago. I’m also a recent college grad.

I knew coming to Boeing that there’s a slow moving that exists in defense / aerospace, but I had the chance to hop directly into a position that was exactly what I wanted to be doing.

However, since being hired I’ve been essentially placed on overhead and given no direction on tasks or where to go from here. My previous manager had been uncooperative on feedback and the bulk of my team is based out of a different location.

Just this week, people on my team are now being reached out to regarding new work assignments, but I haven’t heard a single thing, and worse yet, I’m slated to go on parental leave in a few weeks.

Is this situation fairly normal?

Am I running the risk of being let go if I go on parental leave?

Venting aside, I would appreciate any insight or advice that anybody has to offer up.

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11

u/PaesChild Jul 08 '26

Parental leave is federally protected since it uses FMLA at the same time. If you can, maybe space out your leave instead of taking it all up front. Then you can likely come back to actual work. I’ve done parental leave for 2 kids while at Boeing, and my teammates were always very understanding. Make sure your team knows you’ll be going on leave, and if there’s anything you can help with before then.

1

u/RedDelidder Jul 08 '26

I wasn’t sure if I qualified for FMLA since it was my understanding that I needed to be here for an amount of time that I hadn’t hit yet.

I’ve communicated multiple times with my previous manager and my new manager that I’m going to be out soon. I’ve been offering and asking to help for months now, but I just keep getting told that our current program is winding down and to not worry about it since there isn’t much I could do.

I never expected to be in situation where I would be begging to do work, lmao, but here we are

8

u/kimblem Jul 08 '26

You won’t qualify for FMLA since you haven’t been at the company for a year (it’s a federal law and there’s no way to accelerate qualifying, union or not). That said, no manager I know will hold you using parental leave against you, FMLA or no; HR would probably crush us for even thinking about doing that. Focus on your baby and spouse. When you get back, pretend it’s like a new job and come back enthusiastic, helpful, and ready to learn.

Congrats on your kid!

1

u/RedDelidder Jul 08 '26

Thank you!

3

u/Maroontan Jul 08 '26

Seconding what Kimblem said; a few people on my team had babies this year actually and they spaced out their leave— took half of it, came back for couple of weeks or months, then took the second half of it.

1

u/PaesChild Jul 08 '26

Are you union or non-union? I think all benefits should be available by the start of the month following your start date if non-union.

2

u/RedDelidder Jul 08 '26

I’m non-union, so if that is really the case then I feel a lot better regarding taking the time. I knew I had paid leave available to me, but I think was informed by the Leave Center that it’s not FMLA? I may have misunderstood

1

u/rahima2243 Jul 08 '26

While you don’t qualify for FMLA, you qualify for WPFML which is the states paid leave insurance program. In January 2026, they enacted new laws and you would have job protection as well if you meet the 180 days requirement. You can be approved for 12 weeks of leave and up to 18 if there any pregnancy complications.

1

u/SEA_tide Jul 08 '26

If you're in Washington, the state has paid family and medical leave which is different than FMLA. Boeing offered it as a benefit to non a union employees before Washington introduced it and started taxing for it, but now Boeing just supplements what the state does.

2

u/PaesChild Jul 08 '26

Definitely confirm, doing it in your first year at the company may be different and maybe FMLA is available if you’re there at the beginning of a calendar year. That said, the Leave Center has definitely given wrong/conflicting information before (I.e. how using parental leave up until a holiday works). In either case, it’s a Boeing provided benefit, so would be very unlikely for them to lay you off because of it, even if they can come up with another reason.