Maternity Leave
Maternity leave is a complex issue, both personally and professionally. And, more often
than not, policy differs from practice. Based on interviews that highlight the
perspectives and perceptions of new mothers, Maternity Leave: Policy and
Practice examines the disconnect between maternity leave policy and practice. It presents
the history and development of maternity leave policies and related legislation, and then
provides a fresh perspective for understanding through individual interviews of women who
recently utilized maternity leave.
The book also examines themes and patterns developed from the interviews, such as
inconsistencies in administration of maternity leave policies, timing, transition back to
work, child care, breastfeeding and pumping, and unmet needs and professional concerns. It
also gives a voice to those who are absent from the core interviews-women who have
children at a young age, men who utilize paternity leave, women in same-sex relationships
who start families, and women who choose not to have children.
The book highlights why some colleagues may be unsupportive of the utilization of
maternity leave. A single-source guide to understanding maternity leave, the book contains
a wealth of information, including an overview of legislation related to pregnancy and
maternity leave; trends in birth rates, fertility rates, employment patterns, and the
relationship to the types of maternity leave offered and taken; issues related to maternal
health; an international comparison of policies; and practical recommendations for policy
and organizational change. It not only offers a comprehensive and complete understanding
of the complexities of maternity leave, both in policy and in practice, but also practical
recommendations for policy and organizational change.
Introduction: What Have We Done to Our Daughters? Maternity Leave-An
Unresolved Conversation? Are Maternity Leave Expectations and Realities
Mismatched? References 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 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 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 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 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 The Interviews: Profiles of Women and Their Perceptions and
Experiences Employees of Public Universities Employees of Private Universities Employees
of the Pharmaceutical Industry References 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 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 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 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 References Index
328 pages, Hardcover