H.R. 5781 would provide that 8 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave.
Detailed Summary
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008 - Allows federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) four administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave.
Authorizes the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to up to eight administrative workweeks, based on the consideration of: (1) the benefits provided to the federal government of offering paid parental leave, including enhanced recruitment and retention of employees; (2) the cost to the federal government of increasing the amount of paid parental leave that is available to employees; (3) trends in the private sector and in state and local governments with respect to offering paid parental leave; and (4) the federal government's role as a model employer.
Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees.
Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Library of Congress employees.
Requires GAO to study and report to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of providing an insurance benefit to federal employees which affords partial or total wage replacement with respect to periods of qualified leave. Defines "qualified leave" as leave that: (1) is available by reason of the need to care for the spouse, child, or parent of the employee having a serious health condition or by reason of a serious health condition affecting the employee that renders such employee unable to perform the functions of his or her position; and (2) would otherwise be leave without pay.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/20/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Scott
I fail to understand how paid maternity leave is the taxpayer's problem. Women make the choice to have a child, and taxpayers should not be punished for a woman's failure to plan. Let the companies decide whether to offer paid leave.
Anonymous
We're all employed by someone, whether it be gov't or private sector. All gov't employees can do is save money and paid leave, we're not allowed to pay into any state disability programs because we are in the federal gov't. Believe me, I tried. Many private sector employers offer parental leave. Shouldn't we all receive similar benefits regardless of whom you're working for?
becky
Private employers pay higher wages and offer paid leave because they place value on the family. Our tax dollars support poor mothers and poor families, why punish those who serve our federal government
Anissa
I do not see how a woman being pregnant is her choice or failure to plan. It takes two people to tango... Or sometimes one to force it. Either way it's not her lack of planning. A woman would have to work for 8 years to save enough leave time to cover the birth and medical appointments required for a normal pregnancy. It's absurd to expect anyone to plan out 8 years for that.
Lastly, why do you choose to see only that the woman benefits? What about that child? Shouldn't our goal be to provide the very best for the next generation? Shouldn't that be the goal of the governement as well? And I'm not sure when the last time you checked federal wages was, but OPM's website will show that federal wages aren't the best either. Many federal employees qualify for state and federal aid... so your tax dollars pay for services for them already. Government employees should be treated as well as their civilian counterparts.
B
In most cases it's a family choice to have a child. And as for "planning" a pregnancy -I don't know anyone who has ever successfully "planned" a pregnancy to happen when they wanted it to.
As for taxpayers paying for our leave, I am a taxpayer and I get to support a number of programs I don't qualify for. Yet there are people abusing these programs and milking every benefit. I personally know several doing this. And I get denied the simple benefit of 8 weeks of paid leave with my newborn when I am responsible enough to want to work and support my family and try to provide a good life for them and not take advantage of government programs. Let's talk fairness....
GR
To those who comment negatively on this - not everyone chooses to become a parent but I hope you would try to understand. Pregnancy is work in itself but maternity leave is work unto itself, especially if you have more than one child already. Maternity leave is NOT a vacation -time is needed for all the new adjustments, not to mention healing. Personally, our first born was a huge surprise and I scrambled to build up 6 weeks of leave. My doc said I wasn't ready to return but I could not go on LWOP as the primary income for our family so I had to return, health aside. Please support 8 to 12 weeks of parental leave, it will only provide for more positive and happy and healthy employees. And how can that be bad?
Celia Briar
Almost every country in the world has paid parental leave for public and private sector employees. That includes some very poor countries. The US is very unusual in not helping women who are bringing the next generation into the world. This Bill is a good start - good luck with it.
C
GR has a great point. I just had a baby and do not work for the government but fortunately I do work in a great place where co-workers donated sick-leave to help me stay home longer. Maternity leave is definatly not a vacation! In fact it is some of the hardest work there is. Although I do not work for the government I do have friends and family that do and knowing that they would be able to take the time they need when they have a baby is a great thing. As someone else stated, we are already paying for many programs that many of us do not get to use, why not pay for something that is promoting family.
Captain
This is so wrong and on so many levels. You get paid for doing a job, regardless of your position. The difference here is a taxpayer has no choice on paying taxes, I have a choice in which private secotr company I choose to spend my hard earned $$ with. If those private firms want to pay for Maternity leave, good for them, but taxes no.
Also, if federal wages aren't enough for you, get a better job. (I'm a federal worker also, but because I want to help vets, not for the $$). Just because other "pay" doesn't mean its right. Finally, why can't if get some type of leave when my favorite team wins the superbowl or World Series, etc.
Because once we make an exception for one thing, there are 100's of other reasons.
Bill Favor
If the current administration is going to stick with family values, God, and the bible, then this should not get vetoed. I hope Congress can override the promised veto.
RP
If this is wrong on so many levels, then how is getting taxed to take care of slackers any more fair? I don't have a choice in that! I am a federal employee who chooses to work where we can do great science - I'm not in it for the money either. I want to make a difference, but to deny time to properly care for a newborn tells me that my family life is not important. So when my child is born I am only entitled to use the leave I have accrued, which might be 3 to 4 weeks? Fine, don't give parental leave, but then open up the leave donation program so we can get donated leave for maternity leave -without having to get doctor's notes and jump thru a million hoops when we need to be taking care of our children preparing them to be the next leaders of the free world.
Jenna
This absolutely needs to pass. We need our family values back!
MM
I do not understand why people can be so selfish in this country. We were all babies at some point and will most probably have kids in the future, so this helps society as a whole. Furthermore, the cost is minimal when compared to the IRAQ war. America, where are our priorities and values?
This bill must pass!
Payor
The Captain is right.
Taxpayers selfish? That's more than a little backwards.
Go work for a "for profit employer".
They have an important job too.
Sean
Getting paid for not working is not right. Only 8 percent of private sector employees have acces paid leave. Holding a person's job under FMLA 1993 is more than good enough. The estimated cost of this program is $850 million dollars (2009-2013). This kind of money could be better used for other things.
Sean
Federal Retirement is a bad deal people are begin to realize it. The government realizes it and wants to use this as an incentive.
Bill
Another example of people wanting government to do for them what they should do themselves.
More Socialism creeping in. Wake up people we cant afford this kind of stuff.
Sean is right
Fed retirement a bad deal. We need to repeal the WEP & GPO. This leave issue is a carrot for younger government employees. I’m retired. My gross CSRS retire pay is $1,381. I am unable to collect on my earned SS benefit or my portion of my spouse's SS due to WEP & GPO. If widowed--I'm an instant bag-lady and too old to babysit the little one’s whose parents go back to work.
j
Captain you are comparing child birth and recovery to the world series??? nothing you say can be taken seriously here. The USG needs this type of programming to keep and attract talent who are going to private sector jobs. The USG needs to stay competitive in this job market.
dem in tx
We can't afford to give our people basic benefits but we can afford billions of dollars to other countries.... $850 million dollars for americans to spend on their families vs the trillions in iraq war... wtf?????
Huddie
Don't want my tax dollars funding this ridiculous bill. Federal employees (and I'm one of them) already have great benefits. We should consider rewarding people for not having kids, our planet would certainly appreciate it.
Mary
Our planet would appreciate a drop in population, but we should elimanate the sick, so let's cut health care instead. If we elimante the unborn then we'd be ending the world... I can't believe how ignornat most of the men are on this site. Let them squeeze out a baby and we'll see their attitude change.
Me again
It about drove us to the poor house when my wife had a baby while employeed for the Fed's. She had a normal pregnancy but with all the appointments and delivery time she used her leave in no time at all. Luckily where I worked I got paternity leave. But how messed up is that, the father gets paid time off, but the mother who is doing the actual work doesn't?!?!
Jeni
How is "being paid to not work" different from workmens comp or any other medical condition different than for a woman having a child? Or even just regular vacation days or holidays? Don't we all (those that work anyway) in fact, get paid to not work at some point in time? In fact, having a baby is a TEMPORARY DISABILITY and should be treated as such!
Pebbles
Just another way to supress women...
Tax info
Income security programs, including unemployment compensation, retirement and disability programs, and benefits such as food stamps and housing subsidies, also come from Federal Government revenues. The Federal Government spends money on health care, including assistance for the poor through the Medicaid program, the training of health care professionals, and medical research activities. Programs for education also get funded by Federal revenues.
Veterans receive benefits from the Federal Government.
Transportation for constructing highways, mass transit systems, and airports, the costs of operating the Coast Guard, airways, and assistance to railroads and shipping are additional areas.
more
There are other Federal Government services including protection of natural resources, environmental protection, and maintenance of recreation areas and public lands, there is assistance to foreign countries, disaster relief and community and regional development, energy research, development, and conservation, and space exploration.
and more
The Government must pay for its administrative activities, along with Federal law enforcement and Federal prisons, payments to the Postal Service, aid to small businesses, and mortgage financing insurance. The Government provides funds for crop subsidies, agricultural research, and conservation of farmland.
Captain
Some of you are missing quite a few points here. 1) If you have an entitlement for one group you must have entitlement for other groups, what about the federal employee who adopts a child, why shouldn’t they get 8 weeks also, how about the FE who has to move-in their parent because they cannot live alone anymore, where is their 8 weeks. (cont)
Captain
Right now you are saying to yourself, “dude that isn’t going to happen”, well let me tell you a story, my department has 2 divisions, one division (not mine) had a birthday party every month for those celebrating their birthday that month, and everything was donated by that division, this had been going on for years. Well my division hired a new lady, older about 55-experienced-FE, the 1st month here she filed a complaint that one division celebrates birthdays and the other doesn’t and it’s not fair. I KID YOU NOT, so now either we have a department party or not at all, sad right. So for every new entitlement that’s $850 MILLION dollars. (cont)
Captain
2) If someone makes a decision to have a child, he or she should be able to afford that child, just like if I want a fancy car, I have to be able to afford the insurance, otherwise just because I can have the car doesn’t mean I should. As a taxpayer I should not be “charged extra” to support your child. In the private sector, it’s all-good; it’s their profit they risk, not my tax dollars. (cont)
Captain
3) And finally to “dem in TX”, I know you have never, ever lifted a finger to defend this country, and I know you did not lose a relative in 9/11, I know you haven’t lost friends in the war and I know you aren’t a disabled veteran, I am have suffered all those things. All that $$ for the war, as we say in New York, “it’s the price of doing business”, and now you know the price I have paid for your freedom!
Pam
I am a federal worker as well as a veteran. I had my first child on active duty, and was well taken care of. As a DoA civilian, I do earn sick and annual leave, but with a toddler at home, I use that leave often for her misc illnesses. I am now pregnant with my second child. What little leave I have, I typically use with my OB appointments. I did not plan this pregnancy, it just happened. And I am thrilled. However, I do not get paid maternity leave, and neither does my husband (also DoA Civilian). If I were to take no leave until my baby is born, I won't even have a week. I can't afford to not get paid for six weeks, which is the youngest age daycare will except. It is not YOUR fault that I am a "poor planner" or "financially insecure federal worker". However, it is my employers fault that I won't be paid for six weeks. Certainly, I am not expected to abort or abandon my child because my employer doesn't offer paid maternity leave.
Pam
I completely aggree with Jeni. A woman has a child, and is typically out for six to eight weeks, if no complications. How is this different than a disability? As federal workers, we cannot apply for State disability coverage, but certainly, the federal government wants these mothers back to work for them, rather than loose them to their competetors for workers. Women are a large part of the work force. We aren't going to give up our right to a family. I feel sorry for all of those that don't support this bill. It is finally a step in the direction of supporting families in a time that they truely need it.
Lisa
I am a PREGNANT federal employee, do not get paid much (less than 40k) and it takes me 1 month to earn 2 days of leave (sick & annual)!! It takes forever to earn this leave. And every monthly appt. I have to use that earned leave....it's not as easy as you all think. I denied the federal health benefits because they are so expensive and am on my husband's insurance. The government benefits are not all that they are cracked up to be. I haven't had a vacation in forever and there are days when my back is killing me and I would love to take a few hours off....but missing a half a day means an entire two weeks of earned annual!? I worked in the private sector before this where I earned more leave/pay period and a portion of maternity leave was paid. This is definitely a great start for the federal government and to encourage other employers to do that same.
you are stupid
the military already gets this luxury.....don't be dumb.
Cameron
Captain. Why don't you go shoot yourself you miserable a**hole.