The Case For Paid Family Leave
Paid family leave was one of the most prominent proposals in President Obama’s State of the Union address. Rebecca Traister makes the case:
The United States and its corporate structures were built with one kind of worker—frankly, with one kind of citizen—in mind. That citizen wage-earner was a white man. That this weakness is being addressed by employers faster than it is being addressed by Congress contributes to the widening of the class chasm. Policies that account for the fact that women now give birth and earn wages on which their families depend—and, for that matter, that men now earn wages and provide childcare on which their families depend—should not be crafted by individual bosses or corporations on a piecemeal basis that inevitably favors already privileged populations. They should be available to every American. But until we see a large-scale, national refashioning of family leave, the economic fates of childbearers will be left in the hands of the private entities that employ them.
Please “like” us on Facebook
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.
12 responses to The Case For Paid Family Leave
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
treehouseview18 February 5th, 2015 at 13:17
As a small business owner I have NO interest in paying for people to have children. Our business is too small. The world already has a population growing too fast. More and more woodlands are being destroyed for housing. More people burn more fossil fuels. I would sooner pay for leave for an employee to adopt a child in need…but not to create another needy mouth. That is a privilege If people want to do this they should save as they do for a car or house.
fahvel February 5th, 2015 at 13:27
your view from the tree top is rather the view of a rather sad and mean individual – comparing carrying and delivering a child to buying a car or a house, sheeeit!
Carla Akins February 5th, 2015 at 14:25
Well said
Kick Frenzy February 5th, 2015 at 21:42
Well, you’re part of the problem.
We don’t need business owners who only look out for their own top dollar and don’t care about society as a whole.
Employees that are treated with respect and decency make better workers.
Giving them health benefits, paid maternity/family leave, paid vacations, etc. all contributes to a better functioning work force.
Being an asshole will certainly not create a welcoming working environment.
You wouldn’t want to let us know what your business is, would you?
I still have some room on my boycott list. :D
treehouseview18 February 5th, 2015 at 14:17
As a small business owner I have NO interest in paying for people to have children. Our business is too small. The world already has a population growing too fast. More and more woodlands are being destroyed for housing. More people burn more fossil fuels. I would sooner pay for leave for an employee to adopt a child in need…but not to create another needy mouth. That is a privilege If people want to do this they should save as they do for a car or house.
fahvel February 5th, 2015 at 14:27
your view from the tree top is rather the view of a rather sad and mean individual – comparing carrying and delivering a child to buying a car or a house, sheeeit!
Carla Akins February 5th, 2015 at 15:25
Well said
Kick Frenzy February 5th, 2015 at 22:42
Well, you’re part of the problem.
We don’t need business owners who only look out for their own top dollar and don’t care about society as a whole.
Employees that are treated with respect and decency make better workers.
Giving them health benefits, paid maternity/family leave, paid vacations, etc. all contributes to a better functioning work force.
Being an asshole will certainly not create a welcoming working environment.
You wouldn’t want to let us know what your business is, would you?
I still have some room on my boycott list. :D
Kick Frenzy February 5th, 2015 at 21:40
Wow… we really and truly suck in this category.
This needs to be rectified if the USA wants to have any ground to stand on when declaring itself the greatest nation in the world.
Or even just as a leader of human rights and democracy.
It’s just… shameful.
tracey marie February 5th, 2015 at 22:18
since reagan the right has taken a big downturn into greed and hate
Kick Frenzy February 5th, 2015 at 22:40
Wow… we really and truly suck in this category.
This needs to be rectified if the USA wants to have any ground to stand on when declaring itself the greatest nation in the world.
Or even just as a leader of human rights and democracy.
It’s just… shameful.
tracey marie February 5th, 2015 at 23:18
since reagan the right has taken a big downturn into greed and hate