The National Partnership for Women & Families conducted a 50-state study that analyzed each state for the leave or workplace protections offered. An additional 12 states received failing grades after neglecting to enact any single workplace policy to help expecting or new parents, according to the NPWF.
Seventy-two percent of women are employed at some point before giving birth to their first child; and 59 percent of women who hold full-time jobs during pregnancy return to work within three months after giving birth.
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“Despite some meaningful progress, too many working families in this country struggle at the very time they should be focused on giving children their best possible starts in life,” said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership. “At this time when women are both caregivers and breadwinners, and when voters want and need supportive workplace policies, too many lawmakers are letting them down. America’s families expect and deserve much better.”
Sixty-four percent of mothers with children under the age of six and 74 percent of mothers with elementary- to high-school-age children work outside the home, according to a data analysis by the NPWF.
The NPWF said Ohio advocates and state lawmakers are working together toward the adoption of a pregnancy accommodation law in the state, while businesses, local lawmakers and worker advocates have recently joined forces to advance paid family and medical leave.
According to the report, Ohio law does not expand upon federal rights or protection for new and expecting parents who work in the private sector.
In Ohio, full-time state employees who have worked continuously for the state for at least one year and are disabled for more than 14 consecutive days can take up to 12 months of paid disability leave over the course of their employment, including for a pregnancy-related disability.
Workers are paid 67 percent of their usual salary while on disability leave, according to the report.
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“Our new study shows that progress is possible, and it is wonderful that some states are showing real leadership by establishing standards that provide vitally important help to workers and families while helping pave the way for national change,” said Vicki Shabo, National Partnership vice president.
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