Family Leave Needs *You*
Posted on 05. Dec, 2006 by Brian Reid in General
The United States has staggeringly weak family leave laws, so any attempt to muck with what little we have makes me very, very nervous. So I was, naturally, alarmed when I read at Half Changed World that the government had put out a Request for Information on the Family and Medical Leave Act (and even put out a press release about it.)
Though it seems hard to contemplate that FMLA could actually be made *worse*, but longtime readers will remember my alarm in early 2005, when the government began making noise about changes.
This has been quiet so far — Moms Rising is on it, and there’s an AP story on the effort that quotes Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families:
Ness does not want to see sweeping changes “that could seriously undermine the protections that people now have, and our worry is that this is a step toward doing that,” she said in an interview.
I know a lot of the readers here have experiences with FMLA — I know I have — and it is vitally important that your experience be on the record. The government is taking comments until Feb. 2 at whdcomments@dol.gov. Please, please drop a comment noting your support for FMLA (or — heaven forbid — a *strengthened* FMLA.
If you’re looking for a silver lining, today’s New York Times has one. Apparently, incoming Dems are ready to fight for paid sick leave. It’s not a huge step (we need paid family leave, we need more flexibility to FMLA, etc. etc.), but every little bit helps.
Clare's Dad
05. Dec, 2006
Thanks for the “heads up” on this. I took leave under the FMLA when Clare’s Mom went back to work after Clare was born. There were some negative effects where I worked, but I’d do it again.
I’ll definitely send comments to the DOL.
RebelMom
06. Dec, 2006
The FMLA is remarkable in that 84 percent of employers say it has no or a positive impact on their business! However, 78 percent of those who are entitled to leave don’t take it because they cannot afford to. So the employers may think it is great now because people don’t use it.
And, true to what your last poster said, men in particular have problems taking FMLA. Women have less FMLA issue but more advancement, retention and pay issues once they return.
A striking trend now is employers insisting that leave be taken only by the “primary caregiver.” Some are going so far as to require employees requesting leave to prove that their spouses aren’t taking leave and cannot take leave. This happened to RebelDad and I while I was in law school pregnant with now-known-as RebelKid.
Although many of us would not be impacted by paid sick leave, it would be a huge step for lower paid workers-assuming that they are aware of their rights and have an easy mechanism for enforcing them if they are violated.
Jeff
15. Dec, 2006
Thanks for posting this. I will do the same on my site - more folks need to know about it. Can the worst leave policy in the civilized world really get worse? I continue to be amazed.
Dana
21. Dec, 2006
Family leave, as you say, needs some upgrades. I think it’s important to note, too, that FMLA ties into the whole issue of same-sex-relationship recognition. Employers are not obligated to give an employee FMLA leave for the birth of her child, if it is her same-sex partner carrying the child. Same goes for adoption if the state does not allow second-parent adoptions and it is the employees partner who is adopting. And if the employees partner is lying in the hospital dying of cancer? Too bad. Thankfully, many corporations are choosing to give LGBT employees leave that is equivalent to the federal rights, but many others still dont.
More in my post at Mombian: http://mombian.com/2006/12/20/the-government-wants-your-input-on-the-family-and-medical-leave-act/
jami floyd
24. Jan, 2007
hey there, this is jami floyd and kurt flehigner the mom and stay at home dad in the nightline piece you posted on. we love your site and yes, it is amazing how this is still so difficult for people to get their minds around. i mean really what IS the big deal about a dad staying at home and mom working. more and more families should try it. and we predict, as economic realities change, more families will.
nice site. keep up the good work.
Anonymous
24. Jan, 2007
What a kick! Thanks for the post … and for challenging the status quo when it comes to family roles.