Obama Expected to Expand Paid Maternity Leave for Federal Employees
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — On Thursday, President Obama is expected to announce a presidential directive ordering federal agencies to give at least six weeks of paid maternity leave to all federal employees.
The administration, seeking to strengthen working families, will also call on Congress to pass a law requiring private sector employers to give at least seven days of paid sick/maternity to workers and modest grant programs aimed at helping states enact their own laws. The current Family and Medical Leave Act mandates private employers with 50 or more workers give up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
The proposed policies were previewed by Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett on LinkedIn on Wednesday. “The last thing we should do is add guilt, fear, and financial hardship on working parents as they try to do what’s right — while keeping their job,” Jarrett wrote.
The White House says that Obama has the authority to take this action because federal agencies have the discretion to advance sick leave, and the president has the power to direct them to advance that sick leave.
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