The goal of a business is to make a profit, right? Or do American businesses have additional obligations to promote the good of our society? The issue of mandatory paid parental leave is an example of this debate. Click here to find out where the U.S. stands among the nations of the world in terms of our status on this issue. Be sure to look at the chart at the end of the article. Then address the following prompts:
State your position on this issue and explain why you feel the way you do. For a challenge, argue the opposite of what you actually believe!
Does it matter to the U.S. what other nations in the world are doing on this issue? Why or why not?
21 comments:
It shouldn't matter what other countries are doing.. We should be doing what's best for America, not jumping on the bandwagon because pressure's on us because we're one of very few nations who don't have mandatory paid parental leave.
Currently, paid parental leave is a company's choice, and what this blog is asking is should it be government mandated... No it shouldn't be. I know having a baby is expensive, and when you have to stop working to take care of that baby, life becomes a struggle. However, I don't think we should allow the government to tell companies they're required to have paid parental leave. Currently, companies that do have that, cover it at their own expense. If it becomes government mandated, would it still remain a company cost? Or would it fall to the taxpayers? And if families know they have the government to support them when they have children, I feel like it would make them feel comfortable to have MORE children, and honestly, we don't need our birth rates to increase much more... We're overpopulated as is.
On another note, if a family wants to have a baby they should be financially stable anyway.. stable enough to take some time away from work to care for the baby, and stable enough to be able to support it through its growing up years.
I definitely think parents should be paid while on maternity leave. Babies cost so much, they need the money. Parents also need the time off to get used to parenting, especially since babies usually don't have the best sleeping schedules. I would hate for new parents to be punished for trying to raise a family because of having to keep working with no sleep because of waking up at all hours for the baby to keep enough food on the table. Also, a horrible attitude could come from working tired and reflect on how a parent acts toward the baby. The baby could be a great gift or a screaming thing that doesn't let anyone sleep. So, a mandatory paid leave could give a new family less to worry about.
And we could definitely consider doing as some other nations are about this issue. It would be great to show other countries how much we care about new families.
I agree with Kelsey, that just because all the other nations are doing it doesn't mean we should. The Netherlands can smoke pot, yet somehow I doubt that stoners are going to solve our economic problems. We are the worlds last superpower. For all our problems we still have a lot nore than most other countries out there.
However, I think that we should mandate parental leave. It makes things a lot eisier for a parent, at a time that must be very trying for them. In the long term, this actually helps the workforce also by creating more people to work. It's also simply the right thing to do. We should all remember that one of the great things that separates humans from animals is the concept of right and wrong, and thus, ethics. However, Kelsey makes a good point that a family should use responsibility when choosing toi have a child. But a paid or unpaid leave won't fix that, so a paid leave, in my opinoin, would be beneficial to America. Remember, you were a baby once, ask your mother how she feels about this one.
America is a failing super-power. Our faltering currency is falling underneath the reign of the Euro and the still more powerful pound. We are the world's second largest consumers to the European Union. Now that I've said that, I can go into detail about how miniscule countries with even tinier economies have better benefits for their citizens than America. Norway has a 12 month mandatory maternity leave-- to be honest, I thought about moving to a Scandinavian country before I got married and settled down, so that I would be under a government which cares more about the people and their demands than the tucking away of money from big corporations. I am not saying that Europe is better than America. America has bigger resources and the world's largest economy... but we should not be afraid to demand more benefits.
My German friend, a Berkeley Springs resident currently in Mainz, once told me a story about how Wal-Mart wanted to go to Germany and "have another success story". Turns out that Americans are willing to settle for a lot less benefits than their German counterparts. The employees made demands, the legislative bodies of Germany followed it up, and 85 Wal-Mart superstores all across Germany shut down within two years of opening.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2112746,00.html
Americans more or less forget how much power they have. The government SHOULD be obligated to make a system that caters to you, not the big businesses, right? In healthcare, maternity leave, and things like attending college, Americans always have to pay a heavier price than their counterparts. We have more resources, better means, and a better chance of having happier, healthier lives.
It isn't such a crazy notion that people are more important than profits, but some people seem to forget that such an idea existed before. When American companies exploit their workers by making them work longer hours, and they try the same tactic in other countries they FAILED. Do you want to know why? Because OTHER COUNTRIES are having their governments back the people and not the corporations!
Maternity leave is essential for mothers and young children to have a chance at a healthy start to a new chapter of their lives. A lot of other things are essential too, but we should start with baby steps. It seems sickening to me places like Yugoslavia, Romania, and Estonia have better maternity benefits than the United States of America. We are a lot better than places with minimal regard for human lives, but we should have the same regard that other countries of lesser means have.
Vi her i Norge vet hvordan vi vil leve våre liv ... Vet du hvordan du vil leve din?
-We here in Norway know how we want to live our lives, but do you know how you want to live yours?
Sorry guys, I didn't say my sources for the comment about Norway's maternity leave. I found it out from a government official's word after I made an inquiry, but here's an internet source.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070318/26childcare.htm
"Fifty-three weeks of maternity leave at 80 percent pay with a guaranteed job to return to..."
America should not be concerned with the opinions of any other nations economic system. We are struggling with our own as it is. Payment of parental leave, should be an option left open to the business, and the way it chooses to operate itself. From the companies standpoint, if work is done, then we are getting money, thus you are getting money. The company should have the right to set the standards upon how they will treat their employees, to an extent.
Addressing Emily, I would like to point out that this is not about longer hours, or about what benefits they receive. We have no right to DEMAND anything from a business. You should be aware of the benefits and bonuses that they have when you apply for a position under them. You have to remember that THEY have struggled under our "failing" economic system to create their thriving business. They most likely had most of the difficulties that the average working American has faced. This however, is how America works, if you are not capable, and do not have the means to make it, you will not make it. This speaking from a business POV.
I, for one, choose a healthy, happy life in which my children have a chance of intergenerational mobility rather than one in which the "pursuit of the American dream" results in foreclosures the nation over, and the omniscent unemployment rates.
Maternal rights are just the beginning to such steps. The American dream is unachievable by most. Social mobility in the USA is the lowest amongst other industrialized countries.
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/about/news/IntergenerationalMobility.pdf
Why is it wrong to grant someone a healthy, happy life-- but right to exploit laborers?
A large middle class is the backbone to a healthy economy-- when you have a large upper class and a large lower class with no inbetween, there is no such thing as 'fair regulations set by the bosses'. When you can make money in the business of exploitation of employees, it is in the interest of the business and shareholders to do so. However, some of these 'savings' are morally wrong. Saving by not providing maternal leave is just one of these examples.
Sorry, wrong word (it's late...)
I meant "omnipotent unemployment", not omniscent.
I agree completely with Kelsey and Nathan. The United States isn't playing a game of simon says, it's seeking economic stability. Therefore, following the lead of other countries will not accomplish anything.
Although, I do believe the U.S. should mandate paid parental leave. This should improve in the development of children, who need time and care to become healthy contributers to society. I think companies should be given a choice on how long the parent's paid leave will be though. But, the company must give their employee at least, say 6 weeks paid leave, and have a choice to give them up to a maximum of 12 weeks if they feel necessary. The goverment would set these guidelines for all businesses.
Holy smokes! Of course not! The United States government should not mandate PAID parental leave. This is not the role of our government. The U.S. government provides family medical leave which includes parental leave but it is not paid. This is not to say parents shouldn't take the time they need after they have children, but personal responsibility and planning is important.
-Korinne Cowles
And...if a company wants to offer PAID parental leave as part of their benefits package it might be helpful in attracting young workers, but it should not be required by the federal government.
-Korinne Cowles
It should matter what other countries are doing. Americans are becoming complacent in their comfortable lifestyles and are forgetting that we are not the only country worth listening to. We have become arrogant in our approach to the ideas and practices of our fellow nations and it is not healthy. We may not have to answer to another country specifically, but we, as citizens of this earth, have an obligation to our fellow inhabitants to improve the quality of human life overall. So what is stopping us from improving it? If every other industrialized country implements something good, and it works, we should not be arguing our independence, but following their example.
Paid parental leave should be a basic human right. That is why I believe wholeheartedly that the government should regulate it in corporate America. The first few months of a baby's life are extremely important in establishing a loving relationship with it's parents and receiving the full health benefits of breast feeding. Medical studies have shown that breast feeding for at least the first six months of life can protect the baby from illness and infection and reduce the risk of some cancers in the mother. These may seem like small things, but the health of the future human population would benefit.
People often forget that raising a child is a full time job, and worthy of our efforts to improve it. Corporations would not simply be paying for sentimental time between baby and parents. They would be ensuring the health and well being of this new addition to the future generation of America.
Cite: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html
Korinne couldn't have said it better. It's not the job of the Government to pay you for parental leave. IF you are responible enough to have a child, then you should be responsible enoguh to pay for and take care of it, with out being paid by the Government for it. If you knew that you wern't going to have the money to support a child, its you fault for having it, not the Governments.
Also I like the idea that she added in her next comment...that's a good one for the current Post by Mrs. Stotler about American education!!!
-Andrew Rickli
Our nation is under a mountain of debt that it seems that we will never get out from under, so while I agree paid parental leave would be nice it is not feasible. Our nation's biggest problem is that we have always given out money to help develop the rest of the world, now that we are struggling no other country is standing in line to offer assistance to us. Also, if the paid parental leave falls under the burden of the employer, they are not just paying that person's wages but the wages of a replacement while that person is away from their job. Most businesses can not handle that kind of burden.
I agree with Korinne, if you want to start a family you should plan and be responsible from the start. The first year of raising a child is rough not just the first 14 weeks, it is an adjustment that you learn to make. We have developed into a two income society, if we want everything then both parents have to work.
We should in no way shape or form mandate paid parental leave in the U.S. Having a child is a responsiblity that takes massive preparation and planning. The fact that other countries mandate leave for new parents is irrelevant, right now we are deeper in debt and farther from being stable than we as a country should be and mandating parental leave is ridiculous. Kelsey brings up a good point, would the government be mandating the leave and therefore bring a larger burden upon the taxpayers? Right now some companies will afford you some minimum leave time to get everything straightened out. When my younger brother Ben was born my mom worked at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland and she was afforded a semester of leave time where she was not paid, but had the definite job to go back to.
Um, holy smokes yes. Maternity leave would be beneficial to America. Since we have developed mostly into a two income society, maternity leave would help. If the VOTERS wanted maternity leave and showed it in the polls, we should have it. I think the government should then create a law, requiring MANDATORY PAID PARENTAL LEAVE. That would be similar to as follows... You could take off with pay for a maximum of one year and then go back to your job. This would be a government program and would at first use taxpayer dollars. However, you'd be required to pay back every cent you borrowed from the government, plus $500.00 extra for each month you took off. Eventually tax payer money wouldn't be needed to fund this program because of the increasing amount of people who would be paying back parental leave. I'm not sure what the best way for the U.S. to mandate paid parental leave is, but I know it would be beneficial to many Americans. The first few months of a babies development is critical, why ruin it?
I also think it does matter to the U.S. what other countries are doing on this issue. If maternity leave is working successfully for other countries we should follow there example. This would only better us and what’s wrong with that? In my opinion we need parental leave, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
The United States is no follower, but has been a leader for as long as I can remember. We do not need to reach out to other countries for their advice and ideas. We as a nation should be mature enough to form our own ideas and set guidelines based on our own standards.
Paid parental leave is very convenient and necessary for the child and the family. I think this may be the first time in my life when I agree with Emily Yarrington on something. America has more potential than we know and can do more to help out the people, especially in cases such as this one. I understand there is the argument that if you are responsible enough to have the baby then you should be responsible enough to take care of it. But, pregnancy is pretty hard to plan and predict. Usually when a woman finds out that she is pregnant, it is a surprise! Therefore, how can you be prepared financially for something like this to happen, unless you have a "just in case I get pregnant" savings account?
I agree that different companies and businesses can only to so much and the benefits may vary but there should be something available to aid women when such cases occur.
-Brenton Arrington
It does not matter to the U.S. what other counties are doing because we are an independent nation. We fought the revolution so that we were free from the rules of a society that we were technically no longer a part of. If we wanted others to decide things for us we would have either stayed in England or accepted the laws the put upon us. We have the right and to pass our own laws.
So what if we do not have mandatory paid leave? (Which I think is stupid by the way.) It is our decision. So what if most of the world has some amount of paid leave? We our America not, for example, Iceland or Canada. Our laws are our laws. True it would be nice if we had at least some form of paid leave, but we do not. That should not effect the other nations.
I think that mandatory paid parental leave is something that the U.S. should consider. When a parent goes one on a leave of this kind it's to raise the future generation. They won't be able to raise them well if they start having financial issues because they're trying to learn how to be a parent and not getting paid.
I don't think the U.S. should look at other countries and what they are doing and try it simply because it works for them. We have different problems and other countries solutions may not also work for us.
-Josh Fox
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