Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act
On June 19, 2008, the House passed the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, H.R. 5781. The bill provides four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees for the birth or adoption of a child. In addition to the four weeks, employees will also be allowed to use any accrued annual or sick leave for parental leave, up to eight weeks.
Currently, federal employees are only entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave. Under existing law, federal employees are entitled to a total of 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period due to the birth or adoption of a child. Federal employees must currently use accrued annual leave, if available, if they want to receive pay for any of the time that they are out on parental leave. This policy is particularly difficult for newer employees who have not accrued much leave and employees who have used up their leave. Under current law, in order to use accrued sick leave for parental leave, federal employees must demonstrate the employee’s own medical need for the leave.
This bill provides four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. In addition to the four weeks, under the bill, federal employees will also be allowed to use any accrued annual or sick leave for parental leave. Unlike current law, employees using their sick leave for parental leave will not need to demonstrate a medical need for the leave. The bill also authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to extend the paid parental leave to up to eight weeks.
Enactment of this measure will ensure that the U.S. federal government, as an employer, is providing the type of benefits offered to government workers in other industrialized countries. Indeed, a recent Harvard University study of policies in 165 countries around the world found that 163 of them had paid parental leave for expectant or new mothers, while only two – the U.S. and Australia – did not.
This measure will also help the federal government attract and retain a highly qualified workforce. The federal workforce is aging, so it is particularly critical to attract new workers. Offering family-friendly policies will help attract younger workers to the federal service. Paid parental leave will also help retain employees who start families and might otherwise have trouble achieving balance between work and the responsibilities of becoming a new parent. Indeed, studies show that mothers are more likely to return to their employer if they receive paid parental leave.
Learn more about the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act from the bill's sponsor, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (.pdf)>>