Wow, I’m not sure how to react to this one. As an HR professional, I do get concerned when employers are mandated to offer more and more leave (particularly in California) to our employees. We currently have protected leave mandates under FMLA, CFRA, and PFL, as well as PDA and leave under DFEH to address pregnancy and pregnancy disability leaves. Mandating more leave could be onerous to employers, particularly those with a smaller employee pool.
Besides, many employers already do offer various forms of maternity leave in order to stay competitive as an employer of choice. And I am truly a fan of that.
That being said, the blatant ignorance of the following statement by Sen Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) in defense of an amendment to the health care plan that he proposed is just, well, baffling. Thankfully, Sen Debbie Stabenow (D – Mich) was quick with a response.
As they say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. And the more credit to her. The amendment was defeated 9-14.