To: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
From: Maria Vanegas
RE: Paid Maternity Leave Policy
Date: February 9th, 2015
Currently, millions of citizens are faced with a difficult situation when expecting a new baby: How to support themselves when the mother gives birth and stays home to care for the newborn. This is the result of the lack of a paid maternity leave policy in the United States. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles employees to take unpaid, job protected leave for specific medical and family reasons, including maternity leave. But the fact that it is not paid, forces families, and women in particular, to make difficult decisions regarding their well being after delivering a baby.
Currently, the United States is the only developed economy that does not offer paid maternity leave to women after delivering a baby. Compared to other developed countries, America’s position is shocking: the UK guarantees 52 weeks of paid leave for mothers, Australia offers 18 weeks and Mexico 12 weeks.[1]
Within the United States, only two states – California and New Jersey –offer six weeks of paid leave to men and women, but the leaves are not job- guaranteed.[2] This means that, someone that decides to take advantage of the six-week paid leave has no guarantees that his or her employer will restore their employment upon expiration of the leave. In addition, “paid leave” does not mean that the employee will receive his or her full wages during this period. In New Jersey, employees will get paid 2/3 of their wages, up to $524 per week.[3]
In New York, new mothers can access the state’s temporary disability insurance program, which provides up to $170 per week.[4]This amount is nowhere near the minimum required to pay ones living expenses when not receiving regular wages after delivering a baby.
The decision to offer – or not – paid leave for mothers and fathers has been left to private sector employers that, in many cases, have no incentive to offer this kind of benefit for fear of incurring in large expenses that would hurt their bottom line. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 12% of workers reported having parental leave coverage in 2013. [5] Many business groups and coalitions have fiercely opposed any policy or legislation that would mandate paid maternity leave, framing such policy as “job-killer” and “anti-business”.
In recent weeks, president Obama announced plans to require federal agencies to give their employees up to six weeks of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child. This is a step in the right direction, but not a total victory. First, he will need congressional approval to pass such requirement. In Addition, this plan would leave out the millions of employees that work for stage and private employers.
The lack of paid maternity leave policies in the state of New York is a problem that affects not only women, but also families and communities in general. It is imperative to develop and implement a clear and effective set of regulations that mandate employers to recognize that having, and caring for a baby without the burden of financial uncertainty, is one of the most basic rights of all families. The rest of the world has recognized that. It is time for the state of New York to take the lead and recognize it as well.
Thank you for your attention to this important manner. I look forward to working with you and discussing policy options to address this important issue.
Respectfully,
Maria Vanegas
[1]Facts & Figures: America’s Unique Take on Maternity Leave. (2014, December 4). Retrieved February 11, 2015, from
[2]Williams Yost, C. (2012, May 23). 3 Reasons Why Card-Carrying Capitalists Should Support Paid Family Leave. Retrieved February 11, 2015, from
[3]Department of Labor and Workforce Development | Family Leave Insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2015, from
[4]Introduction to the Disability Benefits Law. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2015, from
[5]Facts & Figures: America’s Unique Take on Maternity Leave. (2014, December 4). Retrieved February 11, 2015, from