Paid family leave: Step in right direction for working moms
Better late than never.
The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved a bill that would give federal employees four weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child, according to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), the main sponsor of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act.
Ann O’Leary at American Progress describes it as modest bill.
“It provides only four weeks of paid leave … although it does allow the Office of Personnel Management to bump up the leave to eight weeks after considering costs and benefits. ”
“This is far less than is common among every other developed nation, where all workers have the right to paid parental leave, typically lasting at least 12 weeks,” O’Leary wrote.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the passage of paid parental leave for federal employees after the birth or adoption of a new child was a “victory for all working families.”
Critics said the legislation was a horrible precedent. Shame on them.
These are the horrible precedents I see, thanks to MomsRising.org for the info:
- In the U.S., 49% of mothers cobble together paid leave following childbirth by using sick days, vacation days, disability leave, and maternity leave. Ain’t that the truth? I’ve witnessed this amongst my friends.
- 51% of new mothers lack any paid leave — so some take unpaid leave, some quit, some even lose their jobs.
This is a step, albeit a small one, in the right direction for working moms, which we should rally around to expand throughout the private sector.
To do that, read more via:
- fact sheet from the Senate.
- news from AmericanChronicle
- Our series on whether you can afford to stay at home with your baby by new mom Renee.
- Get involved. Visit MomsRising.org and tell them you care.
- Read more or watch a video from the Center for American Progress.
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Filed Under: Managing Your Career • Moms Returning to Work • Working Moms Resources
About the Author: Julie Power is a writer and editor with experience in both the United States and Australia. After living in the United States for 16 years, she recently returned to live in Sydney with her husband and twin boys (9 years old).
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[...] According to MomsRising.org, “49 percent of mothers in the U.S. cobble together paid leave following childbirth by using sick days….” [...]