Here's How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Paid Leave Policy Compares to Ivanka Trump-Backed Proposals

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Link to tweet

Here's How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Paid Leave Policy Compares to Ivanka Trump-Backed Proposals

https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-paid-leave-ivanka-trump-1422846?utm_source=Public&utm_medium=Feed&utm_campaign=Distribution



By Jessica Kwong On 5/11/19 at 7:10 AM EDT

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday unveiled a strong paid family leave policy, advocates on the issue agreed. The assessment of the progressive freshman's policy stood in contrast to what one advocate called the "much more problematic” proposals backed by White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump, who has made paid family leave one of her signature issues.

In a series of tweets, Ocasio-Cortez shared that an “‘unusual’ (but shouldn’t be)” part of her office policy is that new parents working for her get three months of paid leave.

“Paid parental leave applies to ALL new parents, period. Moms, dads, parents; biological or adopted,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “If you’ve got a new child, you get 12 weeks to spend adjusting your family to this huge transition.”

The 29-year-old reiterated the importance of giving fathers full parental leave as well and that “I strongly encourage them to take the full time.”

“I’ve heard the ‘normal' paternity leave is 2 weeks. That is NOT okay!” she tweeted. “As my partner says: ‘What do employers expect those new moms to do? Walk it off?’”

Meanwhile, Trump on Tuesday tweeted a TIME story about paid family leave being stalled in Congress and why that was about to change, in which she was quoted.

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Link to tweet

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Verified account @AOC
24h24 hours ago

A few notes on our approach:

1. Expecting a child has nothing to do with our hiring decisions, & we do everything we can to accommodate. That’s supposed to be law, but there are small ways (incl self-selection) where it can play a role. We work to be a pro-family workplace.

/2
164 replies 1,117 retweets 16,159 likes



Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

2. Paid parental leave applies to ALL new parents, period. Moms, dads, parents; biological or adopted. If you’ve got a new child, you get 12 weeks to spend adjusting your family to this huge transition.

/3
284 replies 1,211 retweets 17,997 likes
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
‏Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

3. Our 12 weeks parental leave is up to the parent on how they want to use that time. They don’t have to take all 12 weeks at once - for example, they can take 5 weeks off and work 2 days a week to transition in; bank 3 weeks for later in the year, etc. /4
99 replies 696 retweets 10,791 likes




Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

4. I want to reiterate how important it is to give dads full parental leave. I strongly encourage them to take the full time.

I’ve heard the “normal” paternity leave is 2 weeks. That is NOT okay! As my partner says: “What do employers expect those new moms to do? Walk it off?”



289 replies 1,309 retweets 15,865 likes



Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

5. Equal pay at work is about SO much more than the salary you offer.

If you give dads less paid parental leave than moms, you’re contributing to the pay gap.

If you see pregnancy or family as a workplace obstacle, you’re contributing to the pay gap.
198 replies 1,597 retweets 15,644 likes
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
‏Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

6. We make an effort to make our office family-friendly. We talk about what play mats + cribs we need along w/ our legislative agenda. My personal office can be used for pumping/feeding.

Staff can bring their babies to work if they like & we are working to prepare to have them.
194 replies 696 retweets 10,745 likes
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
‏Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

7. Additionally, paying a living min wage to our most junior staffers means they’re talented + capable (no 2nd job) to take over big-time situations, meaning senior staffers are confident enough in them to take parental leave and not feel like everything will fall apart.
205 replies 1,066 retweets 15,556 likes


Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Verified account @AOC
23h23 hours ago

8. This is convo is bigger than parental leave - it’s a larger conversation about how modern work has grown so hostile to family life. It doesn’t have to be that way!

Work + family can go together, but we have to break down the barriers that force people to choose between them.
621 replies 1,935 retweets 21,173 likes

[Ohiogal]

1. If only

Every workplace in America could be like this.... sigh ....

[lark]

2. Damn, this is good policy and good family ethics!

I so wish this had been in place when I was having children. I had health issues with both births and I don't know what I would have done if mom hadn't come and stayed with me for a month each time. My husband got the 2 weeks and that's it leave.