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Because THE U.S. DOES NOT HAVE A FEDERAL PAID FAMILY LEAVE POLICY, many women are forced to either go back to full-time work too soon or to quit their job and become stay-at-home moms.

Neither is a great option.

Why can't the U.S. join other industrialized nations in having FEDERAL PAID FAMILY LEAVE?

Let us take a trip around the world, to see what other countries offer:

Germany - 14 weeks - at 100 percent of salary
France - 16-26 weeks - at 100 percent of salary
Japan - 14 weeks - at 60 percent of salary
Russia - 140 days - at 100 percent of salary
Israel - 12 weeks - at 75 percent of salary
Sweden - 15 MONTHS! - at 75 percent of salary

Source: http://www.apesma.asn.au/women/articles/paid_maternity_leave_june_01.asp

Although some U.S. corporations DO offer paid leave, it is NOT the norm. You can find out which ones do by searching for Family Friendly businesses. Some companies even offer paid paternity leave, though they are rare.

What will it take to drag U.S. policy into the 21st century?

My opinion is that IF we value women as part of the economy - and we surely are a big part of it - then we need to offer federal paid leave. Period. No more excuses.

Some U.S. states are have already implemented paid leave. California has since 2004.
http://www.paidfamilyleave.org/

In other states, the fight is on. Currently, Washington State is trying to pass legislation.
http://www.paidfamilyleave.org/otherstates.html

Want to get involved in your state? Check out the following web site:

http://www.momsrising.org/maternity

If the feds won't do it, we can all work to get our states to pass paid family leave legislation.

It's the right thing to do.