People are often surprised to learn that the federal government does not provide paid parental leave to its more than 1.8 million hard-working employees. Currently, when federal workers become new parents they are often forced to make the tough decision between staying home to care for their children without pay or return to work early because they cannot afford to take the time off. We believe this is a choice federal workers should not have to make.
As the nation's largest employer, the federal government must be a leader in implementing family-friendly workplace policies. The pro-family "Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act" (H.R. 626), which we have sponsored for many years and passed the House of Representatives yesterday by a 258-154 vote, would eliminate this outdated federal workforce policy and better support working families during this critical time in their child's life.
The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act provides four weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. For the 116,218 federal employees who reside in New York State, being forced to choose between getting a paycheck and caring for their new child is one of the hardest choices they will be forced to make during their careers. Moreover, paid parental leave allows families the opportunity to participate during those critical early moments in their child's life. Children whose parents are provided with paid leave are more likely to have regular check-ups, receive immunizations, and engage in the parent-child bonding that is crucial to early childhood development.
But the joyous occasion of a new child can bring undue stress when a family is faced with reduced or no income at all. Today, most families no longer have a stay-at-home parent to care for a new child. Long before the economic crisis hit, few families could afford to go without pay for any length of time. Now, with massive job losses in New York City and across the nation, many formerly dual-income families are struggling to pay the bills on a single salary. On average, new parents spend $11,000 in added expenses in the year a child is born. Paid leave ensures that new families' incomes and spending remain steady and continue to drive economic growth, which we sorely need right now.
Paid parental leave is also a worthwhile investment for the federal government. Family-friendly policies boost employee morale and productivity and in turn, reduce turnover and eliminate the cost to taxpayers of hiring and training a new employee. Consider the math. It costs 20 percent of an employee's salary to hire and train a new worker, compared to just eight percent of an employee's salary to provide a skilled, experienced employee with four weeks of paid parental leave. It's a win-win for the federal workforce and the American taxpayer.
The United States has fallen behind other industrialized nations and the private sector in providing paid leave. We are the only industrialized nation whose national government workforce does not receive paid parental leave. An astonishing 168 countries are ahead of the United States in setting family friendly workplace policies. In addition, 75 of the Fortune 100 companies already employ workplace policies that invest in employees and their children. It is well past time for the United States to set workplace policies that make it competitive with the private sector--and get us in step with the rest of the industrialized world when it comes to supporting its federal workforce.
We are proud that the House took strong action this week to support federal working families. Now, with the support of Senator Jim Webb, D-VA, who has introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S.354), we hope to see swift action on this bill and get it to the President Obama's desk for a signature in the coming months.
Congressman Towns (D-NY) is Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and is an original cosponsor of H.R. 626; Congresswoman Maloney (D-NY), the author of H.R. 626, is Chair of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee.
Loading comments… 
Having a baby is a choice, and it is nice to have someone else pick up part of the cost, but given the strain on the environmen
How about paying for the first two and after that if you what another you should be prepared to pay for it?
I sense your real problem here is having to do with "others" paying for maternity leave?
After that, you're on your own.
Thank god there are non petty people in the world who see that ONLY GOOD comes out of happy and secure home lives for all workers.
The federal government is THE LARGEST EMPLOYER in the nation. Once they pass a law, most of the time the private sector follows.
Yet if we didn't have a system that creates the need for dual incomes, then paid leave wouldn't be such a financial burden.
Building more prisons isn't going to in of itself reduce crime, though it's one aspect....
We've become a society that treats symptoms first and foremost.
Why is it Congress can provide these benefits to their employees - on our dime - and not make basic health care a right for all citizens? Why is it Congress cannot invest in families everywhere within the U.S.?
Until you can have the courage to provide basic, fundamenta
Most federal employees are not the political tools you hate, they are the people who work in your town hall, fire department
What do you have against these people?
I do think we are going to have to provide for our children as a nation, certainly if we want the abortion rate to go down.
Careful Chloe, these are fighting words to libs on a site like this!
For instance, I wouldn't mind if you raise my taxes - if you also take my insurance payments away.
But, instead, the new proposal is to make us pay even more to insurance companies, so that they can make even more money and their executives can get even richer - thanks Obama.
Federal, State and City government employees are not perceived to be very productive or effective.
Perhaps they are, but they don't show it very well. The service they provide is, quite often, poorly performed and extremely limited.
Altogether
“’Results’ are measured by the success of all those who have purchased your product or service.”
I just don't think the results are worth the cost. I don't think many people do. Which means that the governance and management structure is not very good.
And now, these Congresspe
We need to find create solutions that are more cost effective.
http://www
Oh, that's right, they don't have to compete for jobs. Once in, the Civil Service rules keep them in until they want out - unless they persistent
Seen any Federal Government layoffs lately?