Argumentative Essay On Maternity Leave

Why is America the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer paid maternity and paternity leave? Are family values not important to American society anymore? Studies prove positive outcomes for companies, families, and babies when paid leave is available for the mother and father after the birth of a child. Not having paid maternity leave is also a huge drag on the United States economy. “The rules of the workplace are really stuck in the 1950’s and 60’s where there is this assumption that dads go to work and moms stay home. Well that is just not true,” says Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a video interview on paid maternity leave (Maternity). In most families, both parents have to work to provide for the family in today’s economy. When someone has a child, they should not have to worry about losing their job, or having to return to work before

Some people argue that employers will see paid maternity leave as a huge expense to hire young women resulting in less young women being hired. These nay-sayers also argue that women who do find jobs will be offered lower pay because their employers will believe they will cost them more in the future. Ultimately, the biggest downside of paid maternity leave, according to those against paid leave, is that discrimination against young women in the workplace will be inevitable. In refute to that, that is not proven. No one knows how employers will react until it happens. In those places that have paid leave already, there has not been a negative impact on women in the workforce. Paid maternity leave is encouraging women to return to the workforce and making it easier for people to return to work after they have a child. It gives women something to look forward to in the workforce. Wanting to have a family and having a successful career is not something women should have to choose