What do we have in common with Liberia, Papua New Guinea, and Swaziland? We are the only four countries of 173 studied, according to the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy, that do not require paid maternity leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act entitles new parents to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Only the states of Washington and California require that some of that leave be paid. Here’s what a few other countries offer:
- Canada – Either parent can have 35 weeks within the first year at 55% salary.
- Japan – Either parent can have 14 weeks at 60% salary.
- Sweden – Either parent can have 18 weeks at 80% salary.
- Italy – Mom can have 5 months at 80% salary. Either parent can have 10 months at 30% salary.
- Iceland – Either parent can have 9 months at 80% salary.
This is just one of the many ways that the U.S. government demonstrates how little it values our children. Don’t U.S. children deserve the best start in life? Don’t parents deserve the time and support they need to care for their newborns? Shouldn’t our lawmakers pass legislation that prevents parents from feeling like they need to rush back to work after a few weeks? Is work and the productivity of American businesses that much more important than children? There’s more to supporting the infrastructure of the American family than becoming outraged by an exposed breast on television or banning gay marriage. Want to tell your representatives this? Write them at house.gov/writerep.
(This information found in Cookie Magazine, February 2008, pg. 30.)
