Paid Leave: We Can Do Better.
The paid family leave situation in America is so bad, mothers are conditioned to think that we’re “lucky” to get ANY time off at all to care for a new baby or adopted child. Erin Grau was a New York Times employee who wasn’t satisfied with “good enough” parental leave. So, along with a determined group of women, she fought to make it better for everyone at her company.
Additional interview with Claire Cain Miller, reporter for the Upshot at the New York Times.
In addition to Erin, Rebecca Grossman-Cohen, Alex Hardiman, Christine Hung, and Alex MacCallum worked to improve the New York Times’ parental leave policy.
Additional field production on this episode by Molly Nugent.
Photo on the right by Graham MacIndoe for Nieman Reports.
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Resources
“Where are the Mothers?” Read host Katherine Goldstein’s original reporting about how the women at the New York Times improved their parental leave.
Making the case for parental leave with reporting from Claire Cain Miller:
- “The Economic Benefits of Paid Parental Leave.”
- “In Google’s Inner Circle, a Falling Number of Women.”
- “Wal-Mart and Now Starbucks: Why More Big Companies are Offering Paid Family Leave.”
- “With Paid Leave, Gates Foundation Says There Can Be Too Much of a Good Thing.”
Read The NYTimes Parenting Section’s Guide to negotiating for parental leave:
- “How to Ask for Parental Leave When You’re an Hourly Worker”
- “How Freelancing Parents Can Create Maternity or Paternity Leave.”
- “How to Ask for Maternity or Paternity Leave When Your Company Has No Policy.”
Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving, By Caitlyn Collins
Additional organizations that support parental leave advocacy:
- Paid Leave US is a national advocacy organization aimed at getting national paid family leave by 2022. Check out their FAQ, templates for getting better workplace policies and a cost benefit analysis resource.
- A Better Balance has tons of resources on knowing your rights around family leave, pregnancy and more.
- National Domestic Workers Alliance has an online platform for paid leave for domestic workers.Thanks
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