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It's a pretty well known fact that America is behind the times on maternity leave. We actually had a talk about this not too long ago in this room because California (it's been long enough that I don't remember the details, I could be wrong about the state) created paid maternity leave guidelines. I was blown away in those comments how many people in this country are against paid maternity leave. I was also blown away by just how far behind America is on that front.
COMMENT (127)
Er
Yeah it’s California but I think you have to work for a company with 50 plus employees. But yeah we get 12 weeks at 70% of our pay and I think our new governor is trying to get us even more.
As
I agree. I don't think maternity leave should be mandatory but I definitely think it should be a legal requirement for it to be offered. The way other countries do it is super interesting, but would never work in America because it involves taxes going towards something that might not directly benefit each individual 🙄
Be
I firmly believe we need paid maternity guidelines. I'm pissed I work in healthcare and we have to save up PTO to get any pay for maternity leave and we only get 3 months. The carpenter's union in my area has paid maternity leave and I'm pretty sure it's longer than 3 months.
I support better maternal leave, and think the US standard is ridiculous. I don’t love the comparison between puppies though. A mother’s baby isn’t being taken from her permanently, and the general comparison feels off.
He
I agree. Plus, most puppies die if taken away too soon.
✈️
Yeah exactly. It’s just not the same. It feels icky to compare somehow.
Ai
Different
The social services system in the USA is gross in general. The fact that there is really no real benefit to new mothers is really sad. I was off 12 months and couldn’t imagine less. You shouldn’t have to lose your job because you needed more time, struggle to feed your family or force your tired worn down body back to work well leaving your newborn helpless baby that really just needs their mother. The USA government should be using tax dollars to fund a program that allows mothers to stay home on disability for a minimum of 12 months to care for their baby. If they choose to go back early so be it but they deserve the choice. It is only making better citizens. Where I’m from you can’t even drop off a baby under 6-12 months to daycare. Those centres don’t even exist, thank god
Ma
Sadly the US government doesn’t actually care about the people no matter how much they preach it.
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I used to work at a daycare in Alberta, we started excepting babies at 2 weeks. I only had one that came at 2 weeks old though, but not because her mother went back to work but because the owner had her as a foster care baby. I can see some benefits for daycares allowing younger babies. I had a couple other ones who were under 6 months, but they were all there because of other family issues. I don’t think many daycares except them this young though, I’m pretty sure this one was the only one in my city that did.
Mr
Totally! So many people say “not my tax dollars!” I hear that so much. But let me tell you. I’m working today and I’d love “‘my tax dollars” to go into a fund that allowed new mothers time off work. Take it all
A woman can consent to going back to work. A dog cannot. But if an animal abandons their young, nothing could be done but to help care for them. But what they're really trying to imply is the fact that we don't have paid maternity leave. I think it was a poor choice for comparison
Be
More of my point is, developmentally, by 6-8 weeks, a bitch is weaning her pups, pushing them away, and encouraging independence from her and the pups do well and bond to their new pack. Developmentally, at 6-8 weeks, a human infant is still extremely dependent on it's mother and many women are still in the throes of ppd. Humans develop slower than most species. In some cultures, children were sent to boarding schools when they were at a comparable level of development. Does that make more sense?
K�
It has nothing to do with bonding or nuture. It has to do with survival. Its talking about ripping a parent away from their child. Comparable would be allowing a negligent mother have time to bond with their baby before it's taken away. Or forcing a mother to spend 6 weeks with a baby before giving it up for adoption.
Be
I think it's comparable in that we give an animal more time to bond with, nurture, and be the primary caregiver of their young but we have nothing in the States ensuring human females have the same opportunity. Some women return early out of choice but many get back to work and classes out of necessity.
Even my underdeveloped country has a better maternity leave than US
Sa
The US claims to be a world leader and "the best country in the world" but it is light years behind most of the world on so many important issues. Their politicians are all in someone's pocket and sexism and racism are so deeply engrained in their culture that most of them dont even seem to be aware of it. It also seems like the vast majority have been tricked into voting against their best interest. Despite what their "leader" seems to think, the US is the shithole country
I get the complaints about a 2 week maternity leave, but the analogy is not accurate. It’s illegal to *sell* underaged puppies they permanently no longer have access to their mother’s milk for survival. A newborn is only temporarily separated from their mother while she’s working, and that isn’t illegal, just as it’s not illegal to temporarily separate puppies from their mother.
Ly
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
If someone wants to go back to work early, they should be allowed to but we need a lot of reform in the US in regards to maternity leave, maternity care, and maternity and infant mortality rates. My husband and I want me to take a long maternity leave but I would need a doctor's note and fmla to do it.
Why assume that they don’t want to go back? A lot of people like their jobs and feel dedicated to career. Not saying this statistic doesn’t hit home. It definitely does. But some people just really love to work. I’ll be working from home after about two weeks hopefully. Back full time at 12 weeks God willing.
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