Paid leave

by Leslie Morgan Steiner

Last week, The Wall Street Journal published an article that’s got me gnashing my teeth. Work & Family columnist Sue Shellenbarger reported the disturbing news that on average, over the past decade U.S. businesses have dramatically shortened childbirth leave for new parents.

On behalf of pregnant working moms and expectant fathers throughout the United States , my reaction is emotional: I’m furious. Our country’s family leave policies are outdated and unfair – the U.S. government is one of only four that doesn't mandate paid leave for new parents, along with Swaziland, Papau New Guinea, and Liberia . The ten-year maternity leave downsizing trend shows how vulnerable working moms in particular are without government protection.

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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 »

Most of us can probably remember a boss or two who would have liked to ask if we planned to have children and when during an interview but held his (or her) tongue and took a gamble. I entered the work force at a time when managers knew they couldn't ask those questions, but there were plenty before them who did, and others who didn't but made a decision to avoid hiring a soon-to-be pregnant woman at all cost -- forget hiring a pregnant woman for an open position.

So much has changed, right? It has at many companies, but a British survey of managers found some disheartening yet honest answers when only 5 percent said they have knowingly hired a pregnant woman. Another 52 percent said that when making a hire they try to figure out if and when a woman will get pregnant, taking into account her age (if they know it?) and whether she is recently married. And a pretty solid majority (68) percent said they would like to ask job candidates about their plans to start a family during interviews.

As if planning is everything. Read More »