The Energetic Push for Paid Leave in the U.S. and Why it Matters to Maternal Health
Shalini Wickramatilake, MHS
In 1993 the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was passed into law, marking the first national unpaid leave policy. The law, which applies to employers with 50 or more employees, stipulates eligible workers can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child; to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious medical condition; to recover from a serious health condition themselves; or to take military family leave.
What was once viewed as a radical initiative 28 years ago, is now seen as a woefully inadequate policy that does not provide the needed support for millions of individuals and families.
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