How Paid Parental Leave for Federal Workers Could Spur Wider Changes

The U.S. government's 2.1 million employees will get paid parental leave for the first time, thanks to a new policy that could fuel broader changes, reports PBS NewsHour . The policy entitles federal employees to 12 weeks of paid leave for taking care of newborns, newly adopted children, or foster children, as part of a defense bill expected to get final congressional approval on Dec. 17. The benefit could set a high standard for other companies, both due to the length of time offered and because the policy would be applicable to all new parents. This marks the first major benefit expansion for federal employees since the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Workers will qualify for the benefit starting next October if they have worked for the government at least 12 months; they are required to return to work for at least 12 weeks after taking the leave, though the government can waive that mandate for medical reasons. The policy does not supply paid time off to care for sick adult relatives or for employees' own medical issues, and the benefit's projected federal cost is roughly $3.3 billion over five years. "We are optimistic that this momentum will result in a strong, inclusive paid family and medical leave policy that covers all working people," said National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra Ness.