Pushing Parental Leave

[The Straight Story]

Pushing Parental Leave
By Brittany R. Ballenstedt [e-mail] July 19, 2007

Federal employees, like other American workers, are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave after the birth of a child. It's just not paid leave.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to change that, though. And at least one of the group's members believes that legislation to establish a paid parental leave policy for federal employees has a serious shot at passing this Congress.

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has rolled out two bills that would provide at least eight weeks of paid maternity leave for civil servants, and paternity benefits as well.

One bill (S. 80) would provide at least eight weeks of paid leave for a mother after childbirth, while requiring a minimum of one week of paid leave for fathers and adoptive parents.

A broader bill (S. 1681), which would apply to both public and private sector employees, would permit the eight weeks of paid leave to women and men for the birth or adoption of a child, care for a critically ill child, spouse or parent, or for personal recovery from a serious illness.

http://govexec.com/story_page_pf.cfm?articleid=37508&dcn=todays_most_popular

[Madspirit]

1. k&r and VERY important...n/t

[The Straight Story]

3. Thanks my friend

Been gone for a few days, no internet or phone access up in the mountains. Missed seeing your posts.

It is a very important issue - but I also think it is one of many in that arena - like if you have to have surgery, etc and so on.

[Katherine Brengle]

2. It took me 8 weeks after giving birth just to

be able to walk around without feeling like I was going to die - it's pathetic that we can't give mothers a decent amount of freaking recovery time.