So yesterday Bernie announced that every woman should have 3 months FREE maternity leave

[politicaljunkie41910]

Is this part of the official Bernie Sanders platform, or is this just Bernie being Bernie? You know..."If you say FREE, they will come caucus for you."

I recall several months ago when some groups were demonstrating to raise the minimum wage and also calling for mandatory sick leave for employees. They were asking for either 5 or 7 days mandatory sick leave and meeting with strong resistance even from the Gov of New Jersey. Now I happen to think everyone who works should have some paid time off, including paid sick leave and paid vacation time off; even those who work part time. No one wants someone coming into the office or restaurant, or grocery store who's sick and passing it on to everyone else. However many small and some not so small employers have been reluctant to past laws even when they are popular.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/05/27/3662199/christie-paid-sick-leave/

I live in California, where most women I know get 6 weeks maternity leave. Some employees can purchase a disability policy on their own from the state which guarantees them 6 weeks maternity leave, even if their employer doesn't offer it. Who wouldn't love 12 weeks maternity leave, but if employers say they can't afford to pay 7 days sick leave, what makes Bernie believe employers can afford to pay 12 weeks maternity leave. Bernie says he will pass legislation and make it mandatory. But will they have to make it mandatory for men also. After all, men would want to bond with their newborn child also. Of course Bernie will.

[daleanime]

1. It's been something he's talked about from the get go....

and it's nice how you have no respect for your fellow americans, or is that just some projecting going on?

[sadoldgirl]

2. This is one of his oldest proposals and

comes with a raises of taxes of $1.65 per week,
which is less than most people spend for one
luncheon.

[Nanjeanne]

3. It's part of the Family Leave Plan

He's been pressuring her for a long time to come out in support of it.

He has said many times and also in at least one debate for her to join with Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and support the Plan.

The fact sheet is attached. It's been around since 2015.

http://www.nationalpartnership.org/research-library/work-family/paid-leave/family-act-fact-sheet.pdf

[beam me up scottie]

9. Thank you.

[ljm2002]

4. We all know that free stuff from the government...

...is only meant for giant corporations and the wealthy. Geez, people.

[benny05]

8. Exactly

n/t

[jfern]

5. Even Eritrea has paid family leave. It's time for us to get with the program

[think]

6. "Bernie Sanders says 'every other major country' has family paid leave except United States"

Bernie Sanders says 'every other major country' has family paid leave except United States

By Amy Sherman on Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 at 2:21 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders defended his record as a democratic socialist by calling for the United States to bring its family leave policy in line with other countries.

"You see every other major country saying to moms that, when you have a baby, we're not gonna separate you from your newborn baby, because we are going to have medical and family paid leave, like every other country on Earth," he said during the first Democratic presidential debate.

We will put aside the narrower question of medical leave and focus on family leave.

United States lags behind on paid leave

~Snip~

In the United States, under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, employers with 50 or more workers must allow parents 12 weeks of job-protected leave annually to care for a newborn or to care for a family member with a serious medical condition. While that law protects their job, in most cases the leave is unpaid.

Some employers choose to offer paid leave. About 13 percent of workers had access to some kind of paid family leave in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That’s a very low rate compared to the rest of the developed world.

Of 41 other developed economies, the United States also mandates the shortest period of unpaid leave — 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Australia each allow a full year off (though not all of it is paid)....

Full article:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/14/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-says-every-other-major-country-has-/

[Bjorn Against]

7. The US is lagging far behind in maternity leave

Canada:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province.

Croatia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Denmark:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Serbia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

United Kingdom:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 weeks; however, pay is only for 39 weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90 of average weekly earnings for first 6 weeks; £139.58 or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for next 33 weeks

Sweden:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/1536120

Bernie's proposal is actually very modest compared to the benefits many other countries have. He has not proposed paternity leave, but doing so would not be particularly radical because that too exists in a number of other countries.

[Electric Monk]

10. UK has a full year of maternity leave if the mother wants. Paid 90% for the first 32 weeks, unpaid

for the remainder, if they choose to use it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave#Europe_.28inc._Eastern_Europe_and_Central_Asia.29

Many countries in Africa, like Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, even Ethiopia offer 12 or 14 weeks at 100% pay. There is no good reason America can't do 3 months.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave#Africa