To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Legislate Paid Maternity Leave Now!
Dear Congress, please pass legislation mandating that all employers offer women at least three months' paid maternity leave, and an additional three months' unpaid leave. Support American women and their families!
Why is this important?
When I became pregnant with my son, I had two choices career-wise: return to work after a few weeks, using up all my sick and vacation days and maybe taking unpaid emergency leave; or quit my job. I chose to quit my job. I was lucky enough that I had the support needed to be able to stay home and take care of my baby. But most American women can't afford to quit their jobs; some have to return to work as soon as two weeks after giving birth, or risk being fired. While many assume this is the way it has to be, the fact is that American women are practically the only women in the world forced to make this terrible choice.
The United States needs to catch up with the rest of the world with regards to respecting women and valuing motherhood. We are one of three countries, out of 178, to NOT have paid maternity leave.
Pregnancy and caring for an infant are neither an illness nor a vacation. Having children is a normal part of most people's lives, and allowing mothers the option of being their babies' primary caregivers benefits the whole of society in many verifiable, concrete ways. Paid maternity leave allows mothers to recuperate physically and emotionally from childbirth; promotes bonding and breastfeeding; significantly decreases infant mortality rates; reduces child and spousal abuse; and is of net benefit to the economy as it reduces government spending and the need for public assistance.
The United States needs to catch up with the rest of the world with regards to respecting women and valuing motherhood. We are one of three countries, out of 178, to NOT have paid maternity leave.
Pregnancy and caring for an infant are neither an illness nor a vacation. Having children is a normal part of most people's lives, and allowing mothers the option of being their babies' primary caregivers benefits the whole of society in many verifiable, concrete ways. Paid maternity leave allows mothers to recuperate physically and emotionally from childbirth; promotes bonding and breastfeeding; significantly decreases infant mortality rates; reduces child and spousal abuse; and is of net benefit to the economy as it reduces government spending and the need for public assistance.