U.S. 'decades behind' other countries in parental leave

U.S. 'decades behind' other countries in parental leave, report says
178 countries, but not the U.S., have national laws guaranteeing paid leave, Human Rights Watch finds
Below:
By DAVID CRARY
The Associated Press
updated 2/23/2011 3:50:48 AM ET 2011-02-23T08:50:48
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41721787/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Americans often take pride in ways their nation differs from others. But one distinction — lack of a nationwide policy of paid maternity leave — is cited in a new report as an embarrassment that could be redressed at low cost and without harm to employers.

"Despite its enthusiasm about 'family values,' the U.S. is decades behind other countries in ensuring the well-being of working families," said Janet Walsh, deputy director of the women's rights division of Human Rights Watch.

"Being an outlier is nothing to be proud of in a case like this," she added.

Human Rights Watch, based in New York, focuses most of its investigations on abuses abroad.

But on Wednesday, with release of a report by Walsh on work/family policies in the U.S., it takes the relatively unusual step of critiquing a phenomenon affecting tens of millions of Americans.

The report, "Failing its Families," says at least 178 countries have national laws guaranteeing paid leave for new mothers, while the handful of exceptions include the U.S., Swaziland and Papua New Guinea.

More than 50 nations, including most Western countries, also guarantee paid leave for new fathers.
<<snip>>