Navy Expands Maternity Leave. Are Dads Next?

Obviously, military families make incredible, admirable sacrifices, and many personnel can't be allowed to leave for longer blocks of time. But if the Navy can part with new moms for 18 weeks after a birth, it can part with at least some new dads for more than 10 days total during the child's first year of life.
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Real American Military Family.
Real American Military Family.

An announcement from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus brings great news: paid maternity leave is being expanded to 18 weeks.

The new policy is effective immediately and applies retroactively to "anyone who has been authorized leave following the birth of a child since Jan. 1, 2015," Mabus added on Twitter.

Next, Secretary Mabus, please update your paternity leave policy. Military dads whose kids are born during active duty get 10 days of non-chargeable leave -- if they're married.

Babies need their dads, whether these men are married to the moms or not. And as I explain in All In, allowing substantial time is critical for families, businesses, and the economy.

2015-07-02-1435862506-6514996-militarypaternityleave.jpg

Obviously, military families make incredible, admirable sacrifices, and many personnel can't be allowed to leave for longer blocks of time. But if the Navy can part with new moms for 18 weeks after a birth, it can part with at least some new dads for more than 10 days total during the child's first year of life.

Secretary Mabus: In your announcement, you used the hashtag #PeopleMatter. That includes dads.

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