Giving Mothers a Raise — One More Reason to Lead On Leave
This Mother’s Day, America has one more great reason to Lead on Leave — paid leave can help give working mothers across the country a raise. I know from firsthand experience that paid leave is an economic lifeline for moms. When my son was born 14 years ago, we received a lot of support and help: home cooked meals, onesies in all colors and the essential diaper-genie! But by far the most essential support was 3 months of paid family leave.
Living on an organizer’s salary, paycheck to paycheck, I could not afford to go 12 weeks without pay – and lose a quarter of my annual income. After all, bills only increase with a new baby, especially the cost of child care, which takes a really big bite out of the family budget. Because I had paid leave, I was able to stay home with my son, Coleman — and worked harder than I ever have, waking up every two hours to feed him, changing diapers, and taking on responsibilities and worries that were so foreign to me. But there was no question — I was exactly where I needed to be.
This Mother’s Day we should remember that too many parents face impossible choices like having to choose between time with a newborn and money to pay the bills. For mothers like me, having access to paid leave helps manage those obligations. And even better, it means we have a smooth pathway back to work.
Supporting working families with policies like paid leave can also help close the gender wage gap. While it’s a myth that women’s employment choices explain the pay gaOnly about 12 percent of private sector workers have access to paid leave through their employers. For the millions of working moms without paid leave for childbirth or to bond with an adopted child, that may mean dropping out of the workforce. That can have major consequences on our economic security.p, it’s true that mothers in particular are more likely to earn lower wages. Research shows that paid parental leave helps moms keep their jobs and maintain family income over the long term.
There are many benefits to having paid family leave:
Women are more likely to stay in the workforce and even to increase their work hours.
Paid leave increases retention, especially for low wage workers.
It can lead to higher wages, according to cross-national studies and studies in states like California that have enacted paid family leave policies.
Parental leave, including paternity leave, makes a difference for moms and families, since the ability of partners to take leave can make it easier for mothers to get back on the job.
Paid leave also boosts productivity, helps employers, and improves child health.
Ultimately, increasing wages for mothers can boost household income and help families to make ends meet, but paid parental leave also gives families the priceless gift of time — time to bond with a new baby or adopted child, recover from childbirth, set up child care, go to doctor visits, and prepare to return to work.
As the President says, “When women succeed, America succeeds.” None of us want to miss out on the chocolates, flowers or cute home-made cards we have come to expect for Mothers’ Day. But this year, as we make plans to honor the mothers in our lives, let’s take action for what we know so many of us really want and need. Let’s lead on leave.
Originally published May 9, 2015.