Did you know that the U.S. is the only industrialized nation to NOT require paid leave for parents of newborns?
New parents in the U.S. are guaranteed their jobs for 12 weeks after the arrival of a new baby, per the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993. However, financial assistance is not guaranteed during this time and exemptions to FMLA apply for small companies.
Since the 1970s, the proportion of working-mothers has climbed to nearly 50% from 25%. Without women in the workforce, the economy would be about 15% smaller, equating to about $2.5 trillion in lost economic output.
Clearly, both women and men are critical to maintaining this Country's high economic stature.
It's time to provide working parents with the means and support to adequately care for our next generation