Comments on: U.S. Maternity Leave Rant http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/ Cool finds and random babble for busy parents Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:44:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Carnival of Family Life - Be A Good Dad http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-18 Carnival of Family Life - Be A Good Dad Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:52:46 +0000 http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-18 [...] May presents U.S. Maternity Leave Rant posted at googababy. [...] [...] May presents U.S. Maternity Leave Rant posted at googababy. [...]

]]> By: May http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-16 May Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:17:59 +0000 http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-16 Unfortunately, I don't see this changing any time soon. A <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-07-26-maternity-leave_x.htm" rel="nofollow">past article in USA Today</a> points out that "out of 168 nations in a Harvard University study last year, 163 had some form of paid maternity leave, leaving the United States in the company of Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland." I think part of the issue is the mentality in the U.S. that "we live to work" instead of "working to live." Thus, we have terrible maternity leave policies and just as bad vacation policies. Family and leisure really isn't prioritized the way it should. Unfortunately, I don’t see this changing any time soon. A past article in USA Today points out that “out of 168 nations in a Harvard University study last year, 163 had some form of paid maternity leave, leaving the United States in the company of Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland.”

I think part of the issue is the mentality in the U.S. that “we live to work” instead of “working to live.” Thus, we have terrible maternity leave policies and just as bad vacation policies. Family and leisure really isn’t prioritized the way it should.

]]> By: Lizzie http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-15 Lizzie Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:54:09 +0000 http://www.googababy.com/2006/11/19/us-maternity-leave-rant/#comment-15 I am actually going to rant about this on working moms this week. I went back to work when my son was 8 weeks old. EIGHT WEEKS. It was way too soon and it ripped my heart out. I was barely recovered from my c-section. The maternity leave in the USA is insulting. It should also be noted that the stats you cite are government paid maternity leaves, many companies in the UK and Canada (and those are the only two countries where I have had actual conversations with other working moms to confirm) top up the paid leave allowed by government to make it 80-100% of their regular pay. What do we do? How do we fight? I dont have those answers. I wish I did and I wish things would change. I am actually going to rant about this on working moms this week. I went back to work when my son was 8 weeks old. EIGHT WEEKS. It was way too soon and it ripped my heart out. I was barely recovered from my c-section.

The maternity leave in the USA is insulting.

It should also be noted that the stats you cite are government paid maternity leaves, many companies in the UK and Canada (and those are the only two countries where I have had actual conversations with other working moms to confirm) top up the paid leave allowed by government to make it 80-100% of their regular pay.

What do we do? How do we fight? I dont have those answers. I wish I did and I wish things would change.

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