Family leave

From the I-guess-it's-no-surprise-but-still-tremendously-disappointing files, the Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger reports that companies are pulling back on paid maternity leave benefits. As companies try to rein in benefits and disability costs, it makes sense that full pay during maternity leave would be among the benefits to be whittled away, but it it is a darn shame.

To be clear, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides all employees with the right to take unpaid leave to care for a newborn baby or an ill family member. But about a decade ago, many companies were distinguishing themselves in their quest to hold onto talented employees by offering 100-percent paid leave post-childbirth, making it not only possible for women to take a leave to care for their newborns but also providing added incentive to return as soon as possible to an employer which had gone above and beyond. Read More »

So now I'm really proud to be a Jersey girl because New Jersey became the third state to approve paid family leave for employees who need to take time off to care for a baby or family member. As I noted in this earlier post as the state legislature moved closer to passing the bill, employees will be able to take up to six weeks of leave to care for a family member without forgoing all of their pay or losing their jobs.
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