October 19th 2023.
A recent study from Annuity.org on maternity leave revealed some alarming disparities when it comes to parental leave provisions in the United States. It was found that 80% of Black women, who are the primary breadwinners in two-thirds of American families, do not opt for unpaid maternity leave after giving birth. This speaks to the larger gender disparities when it comes to paid family leave provisions.
Given that women are the majority of breadwinners in their families, paid leave is significant to their financial status and likelihood of returning to work. In fact, if a woman is a recipient of paid family leave, she is 93% more likely to return to work. The study also revealed that women who receive paid leave see an increase in their income by 7%.
The implications of the study are further seen in the fact that Black women lose an estimated $3.9 billion in income each year due to unpaid or poorly paid leave. This shows the disparities in paid family leave based on race and socioeconomic status, with people of color and low-income individuals being the least likely to access the benefits allotted by the Family Medical Leave Act.
When it comes to the states with the most supportive paid family leave policies, Oregon, Washington, and New York come out on top. Oregon, for example, offers 12 weeks of paid leave, with individuals earning 100% of their average weekly wage up to 65% of the state's average weekly wage. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana are the states with the least supportive paid family leave policies. Mississippi in particular does not offer any paid leave protections.
This study drives home the importance of paid family leave and the need for federal protections in the United States. Expecting families need to be aware of the parental leave options available based on state policies and benefits provided by employers.
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