In the US, paid parental leave is considered a benefit provided by employers. The US is actually the only developed country that doesn’t guarantee paid maternity or parental leave to workers. And that’s odd, because the evidence is very clear: Paid parental leave can have a significant positive effect on the health of children and mothers. For example, paid parental leave can reduce infant mortality by as much as 10%. Also, women who took longer than 12 weeks maternity leave reported fewer depressive symptoms, a reduction in severe depression and an improvement in their overall mental health. In addition, it is known that fathers who take paternity leave of 10 days or longer are more involved with their children and with child care activities than men who take no leave. So it makes a lot of sense for politicians to support more extensive paid parental leave laws, in the US, as well as in any other country.
Paid parental leave has significant positive effect on health children and mothers
More of Today's Solutions
Spray-on powder developed in South Korea stops severe bleeding in just one se...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Stopping life-threatening bleeding often comes down to a matter of seconds. Now, scientists in South Korea may have ...
Read MoreOnly have 10 minutes? This quick burst of exercise may cut your cancer risk
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM We already know working out is good for your heart, your waistline, and your mental state. But it ...
Read MoreStudy confirms you slow degenerative aging by picking up the pace
It’s no surprise that maintaining an active lifestyle is linked to staving off age-related diseases such as heart damage, memory loss, and cognitive decline. ...
Read MoreInclusive learning through play: Lego introduces braille bricks for vision-im...
Here at The Optimist Daily, we often tout the many wonderful initiatives spearheaded by well-known Danish toymaker Lego. From its commitment to sustainable practices, its ...
Read More
