As the “Operation Roaring Lion” war continues, thousands of working Israeli women are facing complicated financial and legal questions, particularly those returning from maternity leave. The issue came into focus during a tense exchange between Tzvi Tessler and a caller named Chava on the program “Osim Seder” on Radio Kol Chai.

Chava, who works at a daycare and was scheduled to return from maternity leave just as the fighting began, described her frustration navigating the system. “How do I prove to them that I was supposed to return from maternity leave so they should recognize me for that?” she asked, voicing the concern of many women whose income has been disrupted between the end of maternity leave and the shutdown of workplaces.

During the broadcast, it was explained that eligibility for unemployment benefits under unpaid leave hinges on what is known as the “14-day rule.” According to current guidelines, an employee must be absent from work for at least two consecutive weeks starting from the official date she was meant to return. “You need to complete two weeks from the date you were supposed to return in order to qualify for unemployment benefits,” the experts explained. For mothers returning to closed daycare centers, this creates a race against time in dealing with the National Insurance system.

The discussion outlined two primary options for affected workers. One is to request that the employer formally place them on unpaid leave for at least 14 days. The second, more complex approach, is to ask the employer to continue paying a regular salary, with the expectation that the state may later reimburse the employer for those payments. “Tell the daycare: pay me a regular salary, in the hope that there will be compensation from the state,” was suggested during the program, though it was noted that this depends on the business’s financial status and eligibility for reimbursement.

Chava also recalled financial difficulties from a previous military operation, when confusion over payroll led to demands for repayment. “In the previous war the daycare paid us… and said that once the state reimburses them, we would pay them back,” she said. The overlap between maternity leave and wartime disruptions, combined with unclear eligibility periods, can create salary discrepancies that end up hurting young mothers at a particularly vulnerable time.

Host Tzvi Tessler pledged to continue addressing the issue, including working with the organization Koach LaOvdim to find solutions. For now, many are waiting to see whether the Finance Ministry will introduce a framework that takes into account the unique challenges faced by women returning from maternity leave during an emergency.

{Matzav.com}