In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama stated that "[w]omen deserve equal pay for equal work. You know, she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job." Yet, Federal Government employees currently do not receive any paid maternity leave. Employees are able to take whatever vacation and sick leave they have banked (which for new employees is only four hours per two week pay period -- and also needed during pre- and post-natal care) and/or take up to twelve weeks of UNPAID leave under FMLA, which for many families is not financially an option.
If Mr. Obama is serious about allowing a woman to have children without sacrificing her job, then I would like to petition him to start with the Federal work force and provide paid maternity leave for his employees.