Most new mothers have more college degrees than men, they entered the workforce in near-equal numbers, and they chose their careers assuming that having children wouldn't mean losing money. Almost two-thirds of women with children under 6 work, about twice the rate of the previous generation.
According to the United Nations' International Labour Organization, there are only two countries in the world that don't have some form of legally protected, partially paid time off for working women who've just had a baby: Papua New Guinea and the United States of America.
With no federal action, some states have stepped in. Five states pay new mothers through their disability insurance programs. In 2004, California passed the country's first paid parental leave law. Since then, New Jersey and Rhode Island have followed. Washington won't be able to ignore this forever.
Canada passed its first national maternity leave law in 1971 and has been adjusting it ever since. In 2000, it lengthened its available leave from six months to a year. About four months of that is reserved for mothers; the rest is available to all parents. They receive 55% of their salary (up to an income limit), paid through the country's unemployment insurance program, and are guaranteed their jobs when they go back to work.
Source: Bloomberg BusinessWeek, January 19, 2015
When Doing It All Won't Do: A Self-Coaching Guide for Career Women--Workbook Edition--Paperback
Women, Know Thyself: The most important knowledge is self-knowledge.
Everyone you meet these days is overworked and out of time.
