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Paid time off for pregnant women can become a national work movement currently led by New York
The ground-breaking paid prenatal leave law in New York, signed in April 2024, maybe the beginning of a nationwide movement for paid time off during pregnancy.
Under this law, employers give pregnant women 20 hours of paid leave for medical prenatal appointments and procedures from January 1, 2025. This landmark legislation’s main aim is to provide pregnant workers with support services and prenatal care that will ensure the well-being of mothers and their babies.
The Governor’s proposal to extend the state’s paid family leave policy by providing 40 hours (about 1 and a half days) of paid leave for prenatal care illustrates New York’s intention to address the disparities in maternal and infant health, particularly among the low-income and minority communities.
The infant mortality rate in the United States is among the main issues, having recorded an increase of 3% in 2022, the highest in two decades. Experts tie this issue together with different factors like poverty and non-existent prenatal care. New York is trying to implement a paid prenatal leave policy to make sure that pregnant employees can attend regular medical appointments without being afraid of losing their wages or experiencing job insecurity.
By being the first state to pass this kind of law, New York can inspire other states to take suit. Nixon Peabody, one of the law firms, takes it upon to push this legislation, and predictably, other states will be compelled to emulate it.
Suppose more states enact paid prenatal leave policies. In that case, it will create a nationwide momentum for a federal law, thus starting a movement to support pregnant workers and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
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