Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (Full Version)

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Marcus. -> Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/11/2008 2:02:09 PM)

By Sue Shellenbarger , WSJ.com
6 AM CDT June 11th, 2008
Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

At a time when many consumers are scrambling for cash, working parents face an added source of pressure: a squeeze on maternity-leave pay and time off.

Employers are cutting back on post-childbirth pay for mothers and offering shorter leaves, on average, for both moms and dads, compared with a decade ago. This comes despite research showing attentive nurturing has particular developmental power in a baby's first year, and that longer leaves can ease postpartum depression in some mothers. The pattern heightens the need for parents to plan carefully for time off post-childbirth.

Only 16% of employers offer full pay for childbirth leave, down from 27% in 1998, based on a nationally representative sample of 1,100 employers by the nonprofit Families and Work Institute. The average maximum length of job-guaranteed leaves for new mothers shrank too, to 15.2 weeks from 16.1 weeks a decade ago; leave for dads fell to 12.6 weeks from 13.1.

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lw9 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/12/2008 11:08:23 PM)

Not a surprise. Times are tough, and companies are tightening their belts in many areas besides maternity leave. Some companies might be cutting these areas to avoid cutting jobs altogether.



relady -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/12/2008 11:13:45 PM)

We're regressing instead of progressing in just about every area.



KatMack -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 8:52:47 AM)

I wonder how much the raise in minimum wage is affecting this too.

--Kat



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:00:12 AM)

I don't have a problem with a company doing what they believe is best for them.

Just as a company should have no problem with me doing what I believe it best for my family.



Sophie11 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:00:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KatMack

I wonder how much the raise in minimum wage is affecting this too.

--Kat



I don't understand. What do you mean the raise in minimum wage affecting this issue?



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:02:07 AM)

It cost employers/companies more to pay the woman who may be on leave AND hire someone to come in and do their work while they are out.

Min. wage increase cost the employer "more" than just the amount going to the employee. Increase in wages brings with it increase in the amount of FICA taxes and WC the employer must pay as well. (in some cases it can effect their unemployment insurance cost as well)



Sophie11 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:07:01 AM)

Yes but given that not all companies offer maternity leave, I would imagine not very many paying minimum wage were offering it in the first place. I don't have any figures, but I worked or know people who have worked a lot of the minimum wage jobs in my area, and haven't heard of any of them offering maternity leave. But like I said, I don't know.

Anyway, I would still say the minimum wage increase is generally a good thing.



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:15:40 AM)

When you raise the min. wage that means some of your new min wage employees are now going to make what some of your workers with time under their belt with the company are making. Inorder to reward those employees with a "proven track record" you have to up their pay.



Sophie11 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:25:52 AM)

Yes, but if the minimum wage is never increased you will eventually have a "slave labor" class of people in this country, the minimum wage earners. Given that the cost of a lot of goods has doubled in the last 15 years or so, it only seems right to increase the minimum wage.



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:29:06 AM)

The increase in cost to the employer is passed on to the consumer. (just like the increase in taxes on the oil company's profits would be passed down to the consumer) There is not real change because the price of everything is going to go up.



Sophie11 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:36:21 AM)

The price of everything has already gone up, and continues to do so. The prices would go up reagardless of the wage increase.



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:41:00 AM)

Min. wage, increase in taxes, and paid maternity leave helps the price of food, shelter, clothing, drugs, and everything else go up as well.

Min. wage really didn't do much to help anyone. What helps people is to realize that min. wage jobs are to be for teenagers who have no work experience, no education, no job training ----- in other words you don't really have anything of value to offer society/company/employer. Min. wage jobs have never been for the purpose of supporting a family. Never have been and never will be. As soon as people get that it will be a better place to live.

By the time someone wants to be on their own and start a family they had better already gone though the training and proving stage of their work life. Otherwise they are going to suffer greatly and no one is going to rescue them from their own lack of due dilligence.



Sophie11 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 9:47:14 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: P31W

What helps people is to realize that min. wage jobs are to be for teenagers who have no work experience, no education, no job training ----- in other words you don't really have anything of value to offer society/company/employer. Min. wage jobs have never been for the purpose of supporting a family. Never have been and never will be. As soon as people get that it will be a better place to live.




I definitely have to agree with this, no doubt. You may be winning me over, P31W! [:D]



Marcus. -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 10:17:25 AM)

Let's stay on topic shall we?



cow451 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 10:24:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marcus.

Let's stay on topic shall we?

Family values, LOL?



Marcus. -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 10:36:15 AM)

hehe No chatting about maternity leave and pay instead of minimum wage jobs in general. [;)]



P31W -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 10:42:03 AM)

I just don't get this entire concept that if "I" want to have a baby and "I" want to stay at home with him/her for a certain period of time it's "someone elses" responsibility to provide for me the means to do so or hold my job for me?

I just don't get it.

That's my responsibility as an adult and parent to make those types of decisions and arrangements. Not some employer who is trying to earn a living for themselves and protect their working employees and offer their customers goods and services at a reasonable price.

I just don't get it?

quote:

research showing attentive nurturing has particular developmental power in a baby's first year, and that longer leaves can ease postpartum depression in some mothers.


This research should not be of concern to an employer but to "me" and "my family". This should be part of our decision making process and prudent planning... not someone else.



Brandy -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 10:55:34 AM)

A few states offer state paid disability guised as "Family Medical Leave", where if you paid in so much to SDI over the previous year you are entitled to up to 55% of your pay for 6 wks in the first year of birth/adoption. Your employer doesn't contribute anything, it's employee funded. Atleast in California.

In higher end fields alot of companies do see the value of offering extra paid time off to new parents as an incentive to return and to make them look/feel good. But those higher end companies also know their employees most likely will return to their nice paying jobs with good benefits.

My husband will be given 5 work days from his employer(400+workers in this office here) and can use his accrued time off along with the California Paid Family Medical Leave to make 100% of his pay for a good week or two after our kiddo is born (Any day now). He will use more time around Christmas when we visit family. I will be using the Family Leave for the full 6 wks I've 'paid into'. Again, that's how California has done it for their folks.

I don't think an employer should be mandated to provide paid time off, if anything that falls back to a federal level, like how Canada, France or the UK handles it. It doesn't seem realistic to, as has been pointed out, that my boss should pay me time off and have to hire someone else OR not hire someone and suffer for it. I do appreciate that my job has to remain an option for me to return to though, that's a plus if I choose to go back.



IonMoon -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 11:13:39 AM)

Right. Companies will offer maternity leave if it is in their best interest to do so. Little things like that can make a big difference to people entering a field. I personally chose a job with lower salary in order to get better benefits (maternity leave NOT being one of them, for me).

It is certainly worth it to hold a job for someone who is great in their field and has a lot of experience with the company. However... if the position is easily replaceable, it is a waste of resources.

As someone who doesn't have any plans to use maternity leave again EVER, I would prefer to see a generous leave policy across the board that *I* might be able to benefit from that could be used for maternity leave for those who need it.

At the jobs I worked at up until this one... none offered any kind of maternity leave or pay.

Tara P



KatMack -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 1:01:00 PM)

quote:

I just don't get this entire concept that if "I" want to have a baby and "I" want to stay at home with him/her for a certain period of time it's "someone elses" responsibility to provide for me the means to do so or hold my job for me?


I concur with everything P31W has said in this thread!!! Especially this part.

--Kat



hjemerson -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 2:54:05 PM)

I understan the family leave act. But again it can hurt the company over the long haul. If a person deside it is time to start a family then they must make the plans . I do not feel it is fair to one that have planened and made life change to make eveyone pay.(companies) I have been the one that had to do the covering for my co worker as they have bay after bay and come in complain about the stress This is life and after the frist child you know what getting in to. I belive in planning ang taking care of the family as you have the ablity too. or don"t have so many children ! Belive me I know many do not agree with me But I have many years of expercance of child delv. and The social system that has to care for so many children with WIC?FOODSTAMPS other social sevices etc, I am a big beliver that if you cannot afford the car don"t buy .If you can plan and afford the babies don"t have them . Sorry just my view,



redeemedsaint -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 3:05:29 PM)

Employers are downsizing in every area possible in order to save costs. This is no exception. There will come a time when employers will not be able to provide benefits since health insurance is so high.



lw9 -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/13/2008 6:29:26 PM)

quote:

P31W: I just don't get this entire concept that if "I" want to have a baby and "I" want to stay at home with him/her for a certain period of time it's "someone elses" responsibility to provide for me the means to do so or hold my job for me?

I just don't get it.

That's my responsibility as an adult and parent to make those types of decisions and arrangements. Not some employer who is trying to earn a living for themselves and protect their working employees and offer their customers goods and services at a reasonable price.


Completely agree.



PaleHawkWoman -> RE: Downsizing Maternity Leave: Employers Cut Pay, Time Off (6/14/2008 4:16:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: redeemedsaint

Employers are downsizing in every area possible in order to save costs. This is no exception. There will come a time when employers will not be able to provide benefits since health insurance is so high.


Yes, and that time is coming quickly. Healthcare is becoming a luxury in this country, something that only the upper-middle and upper income workers can afford. Medicaid, contrary to popular belief, is not available to all of the poor- only children under 18 yrs of age(19 if still in high school), pregnant women, and single-parent families. Eligibility depends upon falling under 130% of the US poverty level... which is based upon incomes from 20 years ago so only the poorest would be financially eligible. Adults get only medical coverage- no vision or dental, no mental health. Services and medications are very limited, as well.

Most working families do not qualify for Medicaid.

Why is it all of the other industrialized nations have universal healthcare and we don't? Yeah, citizens of the UK, Sweden, and Japan pay more in taxes than we do but they get more out of it than we do, too - paid healthcare, college tuition, daycare for working parents, and an accounting system in the government which not only cuts out pork-barrel wastage but gets the providers paid quickly and uses only a single-page form when one visits the doctor's office.



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