Paid Maternity Leave
Madeleine M. Kunin once said, “Every time a woman leaves the workforce because she can't find or afford childcare, or she can't work out a flexible arrangement with her boss, or she has no paid maternity leave, her family's income falls down a notch. Simultaneously, national productivity numbers decline.” This quote displays the true effects of the neglect of paid leave in the United States. The United States is part of a small handful of countries that still do not mandate paid maternity leave laws for women. We should make paid maternity leave mandatory, as studies have shown it can lead to healthier child development, benefit mothers and families, and boost respect and employment rates for employers.
The United States …show more content…
Some studies emphasize that many women who experience a positive maternal leave period were almost 20 percent less likely to suffer from depression later in life (“The Long-Run Effect of Maternity Leave Benefits on Mental Health.” 2015). This statistic emphasizes the potential long-term impact paid leave will have on mental health for mothers. Mental health is an important factor, but income is the main reason behind the push for paid leave. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that new parents spend around $70 per month on diapers and baby clothes, and up to $120 on baby food and formula (Gillett "The Science Behind Why Paid Parental Leave Is Good For Everyone" 2015). These numbers don’t include other factors such as hospital bills, furnishing of a nursery, or even groceries for the other family members. Many households can’t survive on one income, and with a leave of up to twelve weeks, this could do financial damage. With the guarantee of a percentage of her salary, a mother can possibly cover the costs of her infant without worry of monetary issues. As stated previously, studies have proven paid leave can increase the duration of breastfeeding, which not only benefits infants, but mothers as well. Many mothers report a feeling of joy while nursing their infants, which is due to a release of positive hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin. Additionally, breastfeeding has proven to …show more content…
The benefits of paid leave include better health for mothers and infants, improved and sustainable financial benefits for families, and boosted morale and respect for employers and employees. It’s important to provide mothers in this country with paid leave, as numerous other countries have done, because all of the studies included in this essay emphasize how we can’t go wrong with making paid leave mandatory. We must call our representatives and senators with the information necessary to influence and inform them to make a change and follow in the steps of many other progressive countries that mandate paid leave for
Madeleine M. Kunin once said, “Every time a woman leaves the workforce because she can't find or afford childcare, or she can't work out a flexible arrangement with her boss, or she has no paid maternity leave, her family's income falls down a notch. Simultaneously, national productivity numbers decline.” This quote displays the true effects of the neglect of paid leave in the United States. The United States is part of a small handful of countries that still do not mandate paid maternity leave laws for women. We should make paid maternity leave mandatory, as studies have shown it can lead to healthier child development, benefit mothers and families, and boost respect and employment rates for employers.
The United States …show more content…
Some studies emphasize that many women who experience a positive maternal leave period were almost 20 percent less likely to suffer from depression later in life (“The Long-Run Effect of Maternity Leave Benefits on Mental Health.” 2015). This statistic emphasizes the potential long-term impact paid leave will have on mental health for mothers. Mental health is an important factor, but income is the main reason behind the push for paid leave. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that new parents spend around $70 per month on diapers and baby clothes, and up to $120 on baby food and formula (Gillett "The Science Behind Why Paid Parental Leave Is Good For Everyone" 2015). These numbers don’t include other factors such as hospital bills, furnishing of a nursery, or even groceries for the other family members. Many households can’t survive on one income, and with a leave of up to twelve weeks, this could do financial damage. With the guarantee of a percentage of her salary, a mother can possibly cover the costs of her infant without worry of monetary issues. As stated previously, studies have proven paid leave can increase the duration of breastfeeding, which not only benefits infants, but mothers as well. Many mothers report a feeling of joy while nursing their infants, which is due to a release of positive hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin. Additionally, breastfeeding has proven to …show more content…
The benefits of paid leave include better health for mothers and infants, improved and sustainable financial benefits for families, and boosted morale and respect for employers and employees. It’s important to provide mothers in this country with paid leave, as numerous other countries have done, because all of the studies included in this essay emphasize how we can’t go wrong with making paid leave mandatory. We must call our representatives and senators with the information necessary to influence and inform them to make a change and follow in the steps of many other progressive countries that mandate paid leave for