Aug 12, 2019
PL+US and the Georgetown Center for Poverty & Inequality released a report on the paid leave policies that everybody in the US needs.
Hear me out. I'm not suggesting that new mothers don't need time off. In fact, I'm arguing just the opposite. They need more time off and it should be paid, ideally at 100% pay. But in 2019, parental leave should not only be available or expected for birthing mothers, it should be available for all caregivers.
It's been 26 years since the initial passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act—the purpose of which was "to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families, to promote the stability and economic security of families, and to promote national interests in preserving family integrity" It was a noble pursuit on behalf of Congress but one that required states and corporations to shoulder the financial responsibility of providing paid leave.