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Parental Leave Benefit Opposed by Readers

Parental Leave

Evaluation Analyst
DoD
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:22 AM

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I think this bill is important and should be signed into law. I have read everyone's comments on the subject and weighed options on both sides. Most of the comments are great concerns as well as their opinion, but they do not speak for the women and men who exhaust their leave and have to ask for leave from their co-workers so they can survive for as long as they need to take care of themselves after delivery or caring for a sick child after delivery. I empathize with their opinion to oppose the bill, but what if they get sick and exhaust all of their leave and have to ask for leave donations. Sure every federal employee accrues leave, but what if the pregnancy is unexpected or additional care is needed for a difficult pregnancy. Do you propose that woman lose her job, that is very sexist don't you think? I would have thought this country could move forward and the men think of their own wives and families in passing this bill into law. Let the men try and have a baby and see.

Re: Parental Leave

HR specialist
DOI
Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:24 PM
It's not just parents who sometimes need additional leave. More and more these days, it's the children of aging parents who need help. Why not offer them this type of benefit?

Re: Parental Leave

worker bee
fed agency
Mon Jul 7, 2008 9:59 AM
This bill isn't about granting leave to someone who has difficulties during pregnancy or has a "sick baby." This is about giving every new parent 4 weeks of paid leave to "bond" with their baby. I agree with the posts that you can plan your pregnancy and you should plan/accrue your leave to accomodate the amount of leave you want to take in conjunction with that pregnancy/childbirth.

If Congress really wants to create a leave category that will benefit all federal employees, create a 4 week bucket for caring for any family member - ailing child/parent/spouse/sibling, bonding with baby, whatever, as long as there is a documented medical need. If you haven't been to this place yet, trust me - you will be. And taking care of your sick and dying child/parent/spouse/sibling is IN NO WAY a "vacation."

Re: Parental Leave

Specialist
Federal Agency
Mon Jul 7, 2008 11:16 AM
The answer is to continue using the leave donor programs as they are being used now. While some agencies have leave banks, my agency does not. They keep a running list of people in need of leave and publicize it on a regular basis soliciting leave donations. Our list almost all the time has people on it requesting leave donations to cover pregnancy.

Re: Parental Leave

Just another Fed
US Govt
Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:29 AM
No need for anyone to lose their job if they're a good employee. Don't forget that there is such a thing as advanced sick leave. You "borrow" sick leave and pay it back when you return to work. Also, employees can always, if financially able, take leave without pay (LWOP). But both of the above require the person to actually do some planning ahead of time, have some thought process in place.

I would have loved to have 4 weeks paid leave with each child but I did plan ahead and was able to take 13 weeks of paid LEAVE for each of my children. I didn't use advanced leave or LWOP, but accrued sick leave that I saved for that exact purpose.

I personally think the government bends over backwards to make sure either parent can get paid leave of one sort or another even if it means borrowing some hours. I just can't support 4 weeks paid in addition to what all employees already have in benefits.

parental leave poll

program specialist
USDA
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:25 AM

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It would really be interesting to see the gender and age break-down of this poll. I'm guessing that more women, particularly of child-bearing age, and younger men could appreciate this benefit that encourages bonding (an early investment in child welfare) and which is available to all workers in so many other countries.

Programs like this are needed

Administrative Officer
BLM
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:27 AM

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We are one of the only nation in the world to not offer a program like this.... It goes to show how incaring we are to our employees......

Parental leave

Industrial Engineering Technician
DoD
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:32 AM

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I think that better partental planning is what is needed. I too earn over 300 hours of leave per year, and have the right to plan my leave as I see necessary.
Everyone should be held to that standard. Planned parenthood is just that, planned parenthood.
People need to accumulate the leave that they feel is necessary to take care of their child when it is born and use their leave to care for them.
We should not put the extra expense or burden on the rest of the tax payers because someone decides that they want to start a family.

Paid parental leave

Claims Representative
SSA
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:42 AM

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I do believe this is a great idea and I sincerely hope it becomes a reality! We can learn from other countries and adopt some of their ideas. Do you ever wonder why employees in other countries are healthier and happier? It's because they are allowed more time off to relax and bond with their families. The end result is a more productive and healthier workforce. In the end, everyone beneifts. I have read all of the comments posted. Others bring up good points as well. Extra leave should be given to accommodate individuals with serious illnesses, or the government should provide short-term and long-term disability policies to aid employees. Right now in case of a serious medical emergency, once you use your sick and annual leave and advanced leave - you have no options if others do not donate enough hours through VLTP. If our employer helps provide more time off with pay for such instances or provides short-term/long-term disability insurance, it would benefit everyone.

Re: Paid parental leave

Reformed Conservative
DFAS
Thu Jul 3, 2008 10:36 AM
Learn from other countries?!!? How can you propose such a thing? Don't you know the U.S. is already perfect?!!!?

Parental Leave is Unnecessary

Federal Employee
Department of Justice
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:52 AM

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The government already has a problem with FERS staff abusing sick leave. Having a "parental leave" program is just another way to be absent from work and would no doubt be abused as well. A parental leave program is unnecessary. When my wife gave birth in the early 90's, I used annual leave because there was no such thing as the FFLA. Government employees can fall back on FFLA and annual leave if necessary.

Re: Parental Leave is Unnecessary

Confused
Army
Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:26 PM
CSRS employees do not abuse leave but FERS employees do. Must be these young whipper-snappers don't have the dedication us old guys have.

Re: Parental Leave is Unnecessary

amm
SSA
Mon Jul 7, 2008 10:23 AM
I have to reiterate something I said before. In my unit I have more CSRS employees abusing sick leave than I do FERS. My unit has a half and half distribution for CSRS and FERS. I don't think that all young employees should be dumped in one category since the under 30's that I have are much more conscientious than some of the older, nearer to retirement employees are.

Some people are selfish and some are selfless

Financial Manager
Navy
Thu Jul 3, 2008 9:58 AM

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Even though we are beyond the child-bearing years, I think this is a good plan. It reminds me of a recent township meeting where all the property owners who no longer had children in school were dead set against an issue to raise property taxes to fund and expansion of the local high school (for science and computer labs). Also opposed were those who were single and had no children in the schools. When I quoted the following, "....promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity," there was a sudden silence from the assembled folks---realization set in for some and others just left. Hey people, wake up and think, if we squash this, we will crush the growth of this country now and for our posterity. These times, they are a changing so look not at the past (where this leave was not needed) but consider the future (as our family structure & units continue to evolve)

Re: Some people are selfish and some are selfless

Manager (retired)
VA
Mon Jul 7, 2008 8:30 AM
Oh my! Wave the flag some more.

Why not let those who elect to have children pay the price for their choice. No special treatment is necessary for those who want to procreate; if anything, they should pay for the privelege.
Total Comments: 108
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