Jamera Lee Massop was an administrative assistant in New York when she became pregnant. She didn't think being pregnant would or should impact her job. However, with no reason other than "your contract says we can terminate you at any time for any reason," Jamera's company fired her when she was six months pregnant. Jamera felt sure that the company didn't want the expense of hiring someone to fill in for her when she was on maternity leave. She knew that if she filed a lawsuit against her company she might win, but she felt she could not take the time or money to fight it at this time in her life. After all, she had no job and therefore no steady income. After her baby was born, with nowhere else to go, Jamera entered the New York City shelter system and had to rely on public welfare programs until she could get back on her feet.
Jamera's story is just one example of how the lack of a viable maternity/parental leave policy harms both individuals and the economy by wasting human capital.
While Jamera was in an entry level position, the reality is that the percentage of women who were terminated shortly before or after their first pregnancy was at 4.7 percent between 2006 and 2008. That means that approximately 158,000 women were let go due to pregnancy during those years. 21.9 percent of these high potential women in leadership positions or on leadership tracks dropped out when they had children because they couldn't see a way to fulfill their responsibilities as mothers as well as employees, given the dismal state of leave policies in the U.S.
Let's face it: the structure of most organizations was designed by and for men who had women at home doing the domestic work.
Today women with paying jobs outside of the home make up half the work force. Many companies and organizations have happily welcomed women. However, our society as a whole has failed to adapt the workplace so that women's unique needs and those of the changing family structure can be met.
Young children bring a particular dynamic to a family in which two parents work regular jobs. Children require attention and care, especially in their first few months and years. If this is a nation that cares about the wellbeing of its next generation, maternity or better yet parental leave policy must be a matter of public concern.
If you think such leave policies are unrealistic, check this out: According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 169 countries out of the worlds rough 196 guarantee some amount of paid parental leave to employees. For example, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Albania and Croatia are among the 31 countries whose government run insurance programs provide a year or more of 100 percent paid, job-guaranteed, maternity or parental leave.
Along with Papua New Guinea, Swaziland and Liberia, the United States is one of the few countries in the world whose government does not mandate any amount of paid maternity leave.
In 1993 the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which guarantees 12 weeks of job-guaranteed unpaid leave only to employees at companies with more than 50 employees became U.S. law. Some states have passed their own more expansive requirements under the FMLA. Of course, leave policy can be expanded further within the private sector if the organizations so choose. But in 2011 only 21 percent of companies that are members of the Society for Human Resources Management offered family leave above the minimum required federal FMLA leave.
The United States makes much ado of defining itself as a forward thinking nation. Yet it is absurd the way our public policy and work places treat parents, and by association, their children. If the United States believes in family values and cares about its children, it must change how the work force supports new mothers and fathers too.
Providing job-guaranteed paid leave would be far more cost effective than losing employees that companies have already invested time and training into. Companies need women's talents, and a company that enables families to take care of their children will find themselves with much more loyal employees. We need not choose between mothers and others.
Women and men who agree with the value of these policy changes can't afford to wait until they need parental leave to influence their companies or organizations. We have the assets to create smarter, healthier policies that will shift the work place to be a more family friendly space for the good of all. We must take the lead, and we can do this together.
You can start by taking a look at the New York City Equal Pay Coalition's petition to end pregnancy discrimination and secure stronger laws for women's equality. And then send us your thoughts on other initiatives that you support or think we all should.