Have you wondered what the benefits of paid parental leave are, and whether or not offering maternity and paternity leave in the US makes sense? Here is my bit on why companies should be required to offer paid maternity and paternity leave in the US because the benefits of paid parental leave far outweigh the differences of opinion on the issue.
An Unknown Fact
Did you know that the US is the only country among 41 other Western countries where paid parental leave isn’t mandatory? That fact alone should tell you something.
Businesses aren’t required to offer it, so many employees, businesses, and the workforce in general are missing out on the countless long-term benefits it provides.
Some consider maternity and paternity leave in the US to be unfair or unnecessary. If only women receive maternity care some think, “Why should a woman get paid to stay at home and take care of her baby?” Because it is offered mostly only to women so men already are in a disadvantaged position. And men have stigma to overcome, too “A father doesn’t need paternity leave when the mother is already taking maternity leave to care for their baby.”
The Benefits Of Paid Parental Leave
Business owners sometimes believe that paid parental leave will hurt their businesses. They should recognize that, on the contrary, the benefits of paid parental leave can help their business grow. Studies show that giving new mothers and fathers paid parental leave affects the workforce in positive ways:
- It encourages employees to return to work instead of leaving permanently.
- There are less turnover and costs with onboarding because it provides a friendly work environment.
- Workers get to spend time with their children without worrying about lost wages or job security.
- Happy workers do a better job and are more productive, creative and engaged.
- It is in a company’s own best interest to have employees who are focused on their work instead of stressing about a newborn child in daycare.
- Paternal leave gives employees a benefit they deserve as human beings and as a result they are more loyal to their employers and more likely to do work related things outside their regular office hours.
Please watch my video below and let me know what you think.
Do you agree that US businesses should be reaping the benefits of paid parental leave? Let’s push for maternity and paternity leave in the US, to promote a stronger workforce for the nation’s businesses.
Let’s Grow,
Beate
Beate Chelette is The Growth Architect & Founder of The Women’s Code, a training company specialized in providing companies an ROI on Balanced Leadership. She has been named one of 50 must-follow women entrepreneurs by the Huffington Post. A first-generation immigrant who found herself $135,000 in debt as a single parent, she bootstrapped her passion for photography into a highly-successful global business, and eventually sold it to Bill Gates in a multimillion-dollar deal.
Beate works with business leaders and supports organizations by developing and providing training the training, tools, and expertise to create and maintain a balanced, equal and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity, employee engagement and corporate growth.
Recent clients include Merck, Women’s Legislative Caucus of California, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), NFTE, CreativeLive, the Association of Corporate Growth, and TracyLocke.
Beate is the author of the #1 International Amazon Bestseller “Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go From Overwhelmed to Awesome” a book that corporate trainer and best-selling author Brian Tracy calls “a handbook for every woman who wants health, success and a fulfilling career.
To book Beate to speak or train please connect here.