Paid Parental Leave in the U.S.

In the U.S., only three states offer paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child. Many U.S. families now rely on dual income from both parents. The current legislation mandating 12 weeks of unpaid family leave does not take into account the financial needs of the family. The family unit as a whole would benefit from a mandated paid leave. Eight weeks of paid leave would allow mothers to recover physically from pregnancy, labor, and delivery without the added worry of becoming a financial burden. This paid time off would also be a critical opportunity for birth parents and adoptive parents to bond with their children. Our military already recognizes the importance of paid time off for parents; it is time the rest of the country caught up.