Paternity Leave
In 2004 California was the first state in the country to enact a “Paid Family Leave” act. While it is generally known that this law pays benefits to someone who must take time off work, for up to six weeks, to care for a seriously ill relative, it is not as widely known that it is also applicable to a parent who wants to spend time bonding with a new minor child (either through birth or adoption). The law does not differentiate between mothers and fathers so, if you meet the eligibility requirements (which can be found here), then you too can spend time bonding with your new child.
That’s all well and good if you live in California, but what about the rest of the country? Well, there is a Federal Family and Medical Leave Act. It won’t apply to everyone, and unlike in California it’s unpaid leave, so you won’t get compensation for lost wages, but it will allow you to take up to 12 weeks of leave and your employer must allow you to return to work once your leave is over
Of course, state laws regarding paternity leave vary but another resource is your employer. By making known your desire to spend time at home with your newborn early in the pregnancy, and working with you employer to find ways to achieve this leave, you might find your boss to be more accomodating than you imagined.
Sadly, it seems the US is a bit lacking in paternity leave legislation, as Australia now gives fathers the option of taking up to 12 months of leave. Although, Spain, Israel and England all have shorter paternity leave statues than the US.
Most importantly, though, is to take the initiative to find out exactly what you’re eligible for, what you can take, and what your employer is willing to give you. Those first few days and weeks with your baby are so important, and you’re not going to want to miss a single minute.
