Paid Maternity Leave Essay

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Currently in the United States, under The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the federal government mandates a minimum of 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave to mothers who have a newborn or have newly adopted a child. Whether or not an employer chooses to pay the mother during this time is left to their discretion. This law only applies to about 50 -60 percent of working mothers due to firm size and duration of employment requirements. Currently, only 11 percent of private sector workers have access to paid maternity leave in the United States. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t mandate paid maternity leave to women. (Stearns, 2015) Norway, for example, offers one year of paid leave to mothers and an additional 12 weeks …show more content…

Mothers who aren’t offered paid maternity leave often return to work before the 12 weeks due to the drastic need for income. These first 12 weeks are crucial to child development and having the mother there benefits the child’s congenital development (Schönberg, & Ludsteck, 2014). This time period is also when the bond between mother and child is established. Paid maternity leave also positively impacts women’s decisions on seeking prenatal care. Without the worry of missing paid days from work once their baby has arrived, mothers are more likely to forego a day of pay during pregnancy and take time off to receive prenatal services. Recently, there has been an emphasis on the importance of preventive healthcare services. Prenatal care falls under this category and is essential to healthy birth outcomes. States with Temporary Disability Insurance, including California and Hawaii, allow paid maternity leave to come into effect immediately before birth or right after (Stearns, 2015). Most women in these states take maternity leave a month prior to birth. The effects of taking time off from work before pregnancy shows a significant positive effect on birth outcomes and birth weights. Women who aren’t offered this option will most likely not take the time

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