Maternity Leave Taxed? Who knows

While I won't turn this post into a rant about the lack of available paid maternity leave in the US, which is chronicled very well in other settings, I'm still trying to figure out if the short term disability payments that I will receive as part of my maternity leave will be subject to federal income tax (Texas has no state income tax :) ). I should note: yes, giving birth is a "disability" according to the law. I'm rolling my eyes right now.

Disability insurance is different from other non-taxable insurance payments from accidents since it is part of a benefits package from my employer. It looks like if the employer pays the premiums, then the insurance payments are taxed, but if employee pays the premiums after tax, then the payments are not subject to income tax. I pay a portion of the premiums before tax and my employer pays a portion. My HR person says that it is subject to tax and that the insurance company will take care of the withholding, but I guess I'm just trying to figure out a way around it and I'm not sure I understand the logic behind whether to tax or not.

While I don't agree with the flat tax proposals, one should be able to figure out his or her own taxes.