The United States is the only first-world country that does not have mandatory paid parental leave. Since politicians on both sides of the aisle love to tout how important families are to the fabric of American society, it is time we held them to account for that.
We petition the Obama Administration to draft legislation amending the Family Medical Leave Act to require all American businesses to provide the following:
- Mandatory 39 weeks paid leave (at 100% of current salary) for mothers of newborn or adopted children, from the date of the child's birth or adoption, with an option for an additional 13 weeks of unpaid leave.
- Mandatory 13 weeks paid leave (at 100% of current salary) for fathers of newborn or adopted children with an option for an additional 13 weeks of unpaid leave.