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It’s baffling that in America, a country that prides itself on its values, we still haven’t afforded parents, particularly women, the right to paid family leave. President Biden’s Build Back Better framework shockingly omits paid family and medical leave, reducing the proposal from twelve weeks to four, and now to none at all, largely due to the opposition from Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, whose support is crucial for the bill’s passage.
Let’s take a moment to consider the broader implications of this situation. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, 79 percent of workers lack access to paid parental or family caregiving leave, and 60 percent are without medical leave. The absence of paid family leave forces many to make heartbreaking choices while juggling work, family, and health.
Paid family and medical leave should not be viewed as a privilege; it’s a basic human right. Mothers should never have to choose between nurturing their newborns and keeping their jobs. Disturbingly, data from PL+US reveals that one in four mothers in the U.S. returns to work just ten days after giving birth, primarily due to financial pressures. When I had my second child, I had to return to work when he was only six weeks old because I didn’t have sufficient unpaid leave. Being a government employee and covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) didn’t help, especially after I had to take leave early due to complications before birth. It was either return to work or risk my job, which in turn jeopardized my future income.
Women of color and minorities are disproportionately impacted by the lack of these policies. Many are the primary earners in their families but often cannot qualify for FMLA due to their job types or hours worked, or they fear losing their jobs altogether.
Imagine a world where parents can fully embrace their new roles without the looming anxiety of how to provide for their families. Paid family leave allows parents to bond, establish breastfeeding, and settle into caregiving routines before returning to work. This should absolutely include all family structures: adoptive parents, non-birth parents, and new foster situations also merit worry-free paid time.
Moreover, the need for paid leave extends beyond welcoming a new child. Many medical situations require individuals to take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, often placing undue stress on working families. For instance, when my son was five months old, he was hospitalized with croup. I had no idea how to handle the situation and ended up staying in the hospital with him for nearly a week. When I called out of work, my coworkers couldn’t fathom why I would prioritize my sick infant over my job. I faced the threat of “disciplinary action” for my choice. One colleague even suggested I leave my child with strangers—unbelievable!
How is it possible that in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we still find ourselves in this predicament? We deserve better. While I agree with Congress that any solution should be well-crafted, the difficulty in achieving any progress at all feels like a slap in the face to all working families.
America, it’s time to get it together.
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Summary:
Paid family and medical leave is a fundamental human right that should be accessible to all, especially new parents. The current lack of support forces parents into difficult choices between their jobs and family care. The ongoing legislative struggles highlight the urgent need for comprehensive policies that support families through all life events, not just childbirth.