Did you know that 46% of employees cannot access unpaid, job-protected parental leave?

Parents should be given a more significant period to bond with and raise their baby. This should be considered a fundamental right. 12 weeks is not enough to recover from childbirth and support a newborn?

Single mothers struggle to find proper financial resources during maternity leave. The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization, writes, “many single parents, disproportionately women, raise children on their own, even from birth”. Having one income for twelve weeks compared to two can be the difference between the health and wellbeing of a family. Many are unable to pay for necessities like clothes, food, and bills to care for their child. Not only does this endanger the baby’s life, but it also leaves the mother stressed and dry of money.

A mother having little bonding time with their newborn affects the baby and mother tremendously. Babies thrive on attention and guidance; A lack of substantial attention would leave children in danger. Unfortunately, America’s work laws rarely reflect these necessary values. Instead, they place more value on work than this essential time in a mother and baby’s life. “Many issues that need assistance are not even apparent until three to four months after delivery,” says Suzanne Bovone, an OBGYN at Obstetrics and Gynecology of San Jose. “It almost becomes impossible to juggle the demands of self-care, childcare, relationships, and work obligations.” This can leave parents in distress which negatively impacts a newborn’s health and wellbeing.

Many new parents face the negative stigma surrounding maternity leave. Workplaces tend to give more days of maternity leave to mothers, but what about the other partner? Lots of non-birthing partners (generally men) tend to face judgment on wanting to spend time with their newborn and spouse. “It defaults mothers to caregiving-focused roles, where their careers are deemed less important compared to their partners’,” says ASTRO, The American Society For Radiation Oncology. “It exacerbates biases in hiring, the gender pay gap, the dearth of women in leadership roles, and attrition.”

So, why are these laws still in place? American workplaces need to address the problems with maternity leave. If you want to take action today, contact the US Department of Labor to lobby for these necessary changes.