Public Policy

A public policy that deserves debate is paid maternity leave. As a young parent at the age of nineteen, I know how difficult it is to struggle financially with raising a child. In my experience, I received a letter from my employer stating that if I didn’t return in two weeks, I would have to reapply. It was not guaranteed I would get my job back after the reapplying process. Had I not returned by the deadline, someone could have been hired in replace, leaving me with a newborn and no income for financial support. Returning to work less than two weeks after having a child was rough physically, and emotionally, but take notice that the relationship and bond between parents and children is also cut short. Weather it’s the mother, the father, adoptive parents, gay, straight, or any other sexual identity, the idea of paid maternity leave should be further discussed. And Jessica Lussenhop questions what changes could come on this topic with the recent election in her article "Will Trump Bring Paid Maternity Leave to the U.S?", published May 25th 2017.

Being the first federal plan in the U.S, Donald Trump proposed a budget plan for 2018. The idea considers paid maternity leave to become a nationwide requirement, and the benefits would be administered by the state. Six weeks is the maximum paid time off in the plan. In comparison, The International Labor Organization recommends at least 14 weeks, and other countries like Japan provide a full year. I can agree with the point Lussenhop makes about having too long of a leave, causing low rates in women returning to the workforce. With the budget and plans being discussed lightly, we are a long way from finalizing, or acting on this policy. Applying for the benefits would be the same as a newly-laid off worker would apply. What’s questionable to me is the income based limit leaving some ineligible for the benefits. With very little being said, and almost nothing being done, there’s a long way to go on the matter.

We should have the right to be set up for success when raising the next generations to come. Low income, middle and upper class all deserve the benefits of raising a newborn in the comfort of their homes, with the financial stability necessary. The costs of raising children soar to the extreme. Bottles, diapers, wipes, clothes, cribs, formula, medicine and doctor visits, are only a few things to consider when supporting the life of a child. A breastfeeding mother may have to reconsider the natural way of feeding her newborn when forced to return to work. Having paid maternity leave should be right, not just a privilege.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40021493