Maternity Leave (2^nd Ed.) Policy and Practice

What does it mean to be a successful working parent? And how do working parents cope in the United States, the only developed nation with no paid parental leave requirement? Despite some positive advancement in the voluntary adoption of paid parental leave, many organizations over the past 25 years have instead decreased paid leave benefits offered to employees in the United States, choosing instead to let unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) serve in its place. This regression in practice is perhaps the greatest unintended consequence of FMLA and surely was not the intent of Congress. Maternity Leave: Policy and Practice, Second Edition approaches parental leave from a variety of perspectives: legal, political, social, institutional, organizational, and, most importantly, from the personal perspectives of the women and men interviewed expressly for the book.

This second edition offers two new chapters: the first puts the issue of maternity leave within the context of work?life balance issues, and the second explores case studies from states, cities, and private organizations. Incorporating new census data, related reports, and academic studies, authors Victoria Gordon and Beth M. Rauhaus utilize relevant and cutting-edge research in their exploration of parental leave, and they enrich this research with the individual stories of ordinary working parents as well as those who choose not to have children. Assuming no prior specialized knowledge, this book can be assigned on a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in politics, public policy, public administration, gender studies, and human resource management, and will equally be of interest to parents, policy makers, and C-suite managers.

List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

The Authors

Chapter 1 Introduction: What Have We Done to Our Daughters?

Maternity Leave—An Unresolved Conversation?

Are Maternity Leave Expectations and Realities Mismatched?

References

Chapter 2 Work–Life Balance

Defining and Refining Work–Life Balance

The Benefits to Organizations with Work–Life Balance Policies

Work–Life Balance Employee Benefits for a Diverse Workforce

References

Chapter 3 Background: Understanding the Legislative Intent and Symbolism of Public Policies

In the Beginning: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act

The Tax Code and Child Care and Child Tax Credits

The Promises and Problems of the Family and Medical Leave Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Economic, Social, and Symbolic Implications of Maternity Leave Policies

Appendix

References

Chapter 4 The Evolution and Devolution of Maternity Leave as an Employee Benefit

Trends in Birthrates, Fertility Rates, Employment Patterns, and Use of Maternity Leave Benefits

Types of Maternity Leave Taken—Paid and Unpaid

Types of Paternity and Parental Leave Policies

Examples of Maternity Leave Policies

Antenatal Leave and Short-Term Disability Leave

No Leave and Permanent Exit from the Workplace

References

Chapter 5 Women’s Health Care and the Workplace

Health Insurance for Women of Childbearing Age

Fertility Issues

Intended and Unintended Pregnancies

Pregnancy and Work

Pregnancy and Factors Impacting Infant Mortality

Delivery, Maternal Mortality, and Morbidity

Maternity Leave and Infant Mortality

Mother’s Return to Work and Breast-Feeding

Well-Baby Doctor Visits

Postpartum Issues

Optimal Length of Maternity Leave

The Baby’s Perspective

The Need for a Holistic Approach to Women’s Health

References

Chapter 6 Research Approach

The Methodology: Why Qualitative Research?

Analysis of the Interviews

Study Limitations

The Participants: Who Are These Women?

Description of the In-Depth Interview Questions

References

Chapter 7 The Interviews: Profiles of Women and Their Perceptions and Experiences

Employees of Public Universities

Employees of Private Universities

Employees of the Pharmaceutical Industry

References

Chapter 8 The Themes: How Women Cope with the Myths and Realities of Maternity Leave

Inconsistencies in Administration of Maternity Leave Policies

It Is All in the Timing

Transition Back to Work

Child Care

Breast-Feeding, Pumping, and the Workplace

Unmet Needs and Professional Concerns

Chapter 9 The Other Voices

Students Who Are Mothers: Is It Better to Have Children at a Younger Age?

Fathers Who Utilized Paternity Leave

Challenges Faced by Same-Sex Couples Who Decide to Become Parents

Women Who Decided Not to Have Children

Unsupportive Versus Supportive Colleagues—The Stereotypes and Biases

Administrative Views—Rules Versus Discretion

Appendix

References

Chapter 10 An International Comparison—The Other Kingdoms

What Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, and Parental Leave Benefits Are Offered in Other Countries?

Why Is the United States Lagging behind Other Countries in Providing Maternity Leave Benefits?

References

Chapter 11 Progress: Baby Steps

Federal Maternity Leave Policy

State Maternity Leave Policies

Paid Leave in the States

Unpaid and Partially Paid Leave in the States

Local Government Maternity Leave Policies

Private Sector Maternity Leave Policies and Best Practices

References

Chapter 12 Conclusion: Can the Fairy Tale Be Realized or Should It Be Rewritten?

What Are the Obstacles to a Happy Ending for Our Daughters?

What Can We Reasonably Expect to Change within Our Organizations?

What Is Best for Society?

Restoring the Fairy Tale

Appendix

References

Index

Victoria Gordon is a professor in the Department of Political Science MPA program at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green. She earned her doctor of public administration degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield. Her areas of research interest include municipal finance and human resources management.

Beth M. Rauhaus is an assistant professor of public administration and the MPA Program Coordinator in the Department of Social Sciences at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. She holds a PhD in public administration and policy from Mississippi State University. Much of her research explores gender representation and diversity in the public sector.