The U.S. compares poorly to countries with developed economies, like ours, with respect to supports for families, especially parental leave. As a developmental psychologist as well as a mother and grandmother, I am keenly aware of the importance of providing men and women alike with time to adjust to their new role as parents, time to learn the baby’s needs and rhythms, and time to sleep. And women who have given birth often need time to recover from giving birth.
The business case for parental leave is strong. In the wake of California’s partially paid family leave program, one of the first in the nation, a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research found positive or no appreciable effects of parental leave on employee productivity, …show more content…
I know from research and personal experience how important the early weeks are for families and newborns. During the last 18 months I have witnessed the importance of paid parental leave for my two daughters, following the birth of my two grandchildren. They were fortunate to have paid maternity leave; many in the U.S. don’t. This country ranks 33rd among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in support for early care and education; only Slovakia, Cyprus and Estonia are ranked lower. In Sweden, new mothers are guaranteed 16 months paid leave. And in Canada, our neighbor, they receive 12 months paid leave.
Further, benefits relating to new children should encompass both parents, not just mothers. Parenting is a shared responsibility. And shared parenting supports women, as employees and as mothers. A 2010 study in Sweden found that, for every month of parental leave her partner took, a mother’s future earnings rose by 7 percent. Research from the New America think tank found that enabling new fathers to spend time with newborns not only helped them bond more strongly with their children but advanced gender equality by distributing family responsibilities more equitably from an early
The business case for parental leave is strong. In the wake of California’s partially paid family leave program, one of the first in the nation, a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research found positive or no appreciable effects of parental leave on employee productivity, …show more content…
I know from research and personal experience how important the early weeks are for families and newborns. During the last 18 months I have witnessed the importance of paid parental leave for my two daughters, following the birth of my two grandchildren. They were fortunate to have paid maternity leave; many in the U.S. don’t. This country ranks 33rd among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in support for early care and education; only Slovakia, Cyprus and Estonia are ranked lower. In Sweden, new mothers are guaranteed 16 months paid leave. And in Canada, our neighbor, they receive 12 months paid leave.
Further, benefits relating to new children should encompass both parents, not just mothers. Parenting is a shared responsibility. And shared parenting supports women, as employees and as mothers. A 2010 study in Sweden found that, for every month of parental leave her partner took, a mother’s future earnings rose by 7 percent. Research from the New America think tank found that enabling new fathers to spend time with newborns not only helped them bond more strongly with their children but advanced gender equality by distributing family responsibilities more equitably from an early