| It is important for moms and dads to know the facts | | | | work. Parents to be require an adjustment period to |
| about maternity leave and to know your rights in the | | | | this new life that will change their lives forever. Dads |
| USA. | | | | are expected to take the bare minimum off their |
| I know two women here in the United States where I | | | | normal schedule. This does not take into account, the |
| live, who recently found out they were pregnant. Both | | | | outcome of a premature or ill baby. |
| have claimed for years, they did not want children. | | | | In America, only one in seven workers receives paid |
| After the initial baby blues, these mommies to be are | | | | leave for childbirth. The wealthiest nation in the world |
| tickled pink! One of the ladies will be 39 by the time her | | | | puts maternity leave at the bottom of the family |
| child is born. Luckily, she has been with the same | | | | values list. The business outlook in the USA is not |
| employer for over a decade. This dedication has | | | | looking out for the parents of this country. Instead, we |
| earned twelve weeks paid maternity leave. The | | | | are made to feel guilty of leaving our workplace in an |
| younger expectant Mom only qualifies for the standard | | | | awkward position. Added insecurity of our jobs being in |
| six weeks off work. This is not a lot of time- to give | | | | jeopardy, does not lead to a healthy environment. |
| birth, recuperate, and bond with your newborn. | | | | Keeping our families and employment in check requires |
| What if the pregnancy becomes difficult in the final | | | | juggling financial demands and bouncing babies. |
| trimester? Sometimes your gynecologist will prescribe | | | | You may find uncaring management at fault, although |
| bed rest for women who are experiencing | | | | most maternity leave policies are not dictated at the |
| complications. You may need to stay off your feet for | | | | office level but by the US government. It pays you to |
| weeks before delivery. Someone told me of a new | | | | know your legal rights. The Family and Medical Leave |
| mother who was harassed by her boss to return to | | | | Act of 1993, states that you are allowed at least 12 |
| work early when her son was only five weeks old. | | | | weeks of unpaid maternity leave, if your company |
| Mothers do not deserve the additional pressure of | | | | employs more than 50 people. You must have been |
| worrying over job security, while trying to take care of | | | | employed full-time for at least a consecutive year to |
| their growing family. A woman should not have to put | | | | be eligible. |
| their health at risk, working right up to the due date. | | | | Maternity leave rights guarantee a job will be waiting |
| We cannot leave fathers out of the excitement. After | | | | your arrival back to work. Your employer is not legally |
| they receive the news of becoming a Dad, there are | | | | bound to hold the exact position you left. Your pay is |
| other important events to share. They are needed at | | | | guaranteed to stay the same or better when you |
| doctor visits and naturally at the hospital when the | | | | return. It is a violation of the Law, if you are told your |
| baby is born. Employers in the United States frown | | | | job no longer exists after taking maternity leave. |
| enough on mothers expecting maternity leave. It is | | | | Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. Finding |
| practically unheard of for the father to expect time off | | | | balance between home and income is a labor of love. |