America's lousy family leave policy

Guardian - As the Guardian reported last year, the US is the only developed country that doesn’t guarantee paid maternity or parental leave to its citizens. Every other OECD nation, including Mexico, offers at least 12 weeks of available paid leave for new and expectant mothers. Australia offers 18 weeks of paid time off, the UK offers 39 weeks, and other nations offer even more generous benefits.

Because a national policy is lacking, several states have taken action on their own.

During the 50s and 60s, six states – including New York – and Puerto Rico established disability benefits through which expectant and new mothers could also access paid maternity leave. But only three states – California, New Jersey and Rhode Island – have since passed and implemented full-scale family leave policies.