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Assignment #4 - Maternity Leave

Fact, there are only two countries in the world that do not guarantee paid maternity leave: the United States and Papua New Guinea. Having to choose between motherhood and career is a real fear that many working women in both countries face. As of June 28, 2018, there are now seven states that provide paid maternity leave laws, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington - as well as the District of Columbia according to zenefits.com. In California paid leave that is provided is only twelve weeks long and the amount you are getting paid is only 50% of your monthly income. Now, in comparison to Sweden-a nation that offers 480 days of paid family leave, that is just mind blowing. Even though California is one of the states that is offering the “better quality” of options for maternity leave. When you compare it to Sweden, our efforts are truly pathetic. There have been many advances within California with options for expecting mothers and now families that they can choose from. Let's take the California New Parent Leave Act that took effect in 2019 for example. It allows some employees to take leave for up to 12 weeks to take care of a new child (biological, adopted, or foster). This law covers employers who have at least 20 employees in a 75-mile radius according to brobertsonlaw.com. Currently, tech companies are leading the way on trending family leave. Advances like this are great, but according to thecut.com, if you happen to fall into the growing workforce of full-time freelancers, you face uncharted territory. Independent workers are not covered by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Some of the options that one can do if they are preparing to welcome new life into their family and happen to be a freelancer, they can apply for disability insurance through the government, plan a few years ahead and save like your life depended on it (because babies are always planned..), or hope that the partner you’ve chosen to reproduce with is wealthy. Through my research I only found a hand full of artist that created their experience with maternity leave into art. It is hopeful that numbers and options have grown for us Californians, but there is still so much catching up to do, especially as freelance creatives.

 Art Examples -
http://www.lenkaclayton.com/maternity-leave
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/04/maternity-leave-vacation-holiday

 Links Referenced 
Broadly
https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvdxz3/maternity-leave-how-america-is-failing-its-mothers

 Brobertsonlaw

Zenefits

The Cut 

CA Gov.

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