US: Lack of Paid Leave Harms Workers, Children

Human Rights Watch, February 23rd, 2011
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/02/23/us-lack-paid-leave-harms-workers-children

This article condemns the lack of American work-family policies and considers the types of realities that American parents are forced to face, describing them as human rights violations. These include "little or no paid family leave after childbirth or adoption, employer reticence to offer breastfeeding support or flexible schedules, and workplace discrimination against new parents, especially mothers". It claims that the lack of such policies have health, financial, and career impacts on parents and urges reforms that will bring the U.S., which is now "an extreme outlier", in line with the rest of the world.

Paid maternity leave has far-reaching implications on health including increased breastfeeding, lower infant mortality, higher rates of immunizations and health visits for babies, and lower risk of postpartum depression. This issue also highlights social disparities, as low-income workers who need paid leave the most are often left out. It is the role of policymakers to help workers take care of their families. Moreover, giving mothers the time off to nurse for infants reduces risk to mothers for a plethora of health issues including weight control, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. In this way, paid leave not only impacts families in a positive way, but stands as a proactive form of health care. If we want to strengthen the health of tomorrow's future citizens, we cannot abandon children at their most vital, brain-shaping time. Families must nurture and care for them and support their development and well-being by being there for their children without having to worry about financial issues.