Justice
The U.S. Cities Marching Ahead on Paid Parental Leave
Will new policies in San Francisco and New York nudge the country towards valuing domestic labor?
It’s been a big week for families in two U.S. coastal cities, with working parents receiving more options for spending time with their infants without jeopardizing their income. But some critics worry that, though the policies ease some financial burdens for growing families, they don't do enough to dismantle a cultural trope that construes work and parenthood as a zero-sum game.
San Francisco approved 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents, becoming the first American city to do so. The financial onus will be shared between employers and public disability insurance, with companies responsible for 45 percent, and public funds making up the difference, the New York Times reported.