User:Kbm6cb/Gender pay gap

The United States stands apart from other countries when it comes to maternity leave. Out of 41 counties, the United States is the only one that does not require paid maternity leave. Other countries require a minimum of 2 months paid maternity leave. There are other countries, such as Estonia, that let mothers have more than 18 months of paid maternity leave. While the amount of mothers working part-time and full-time in the United States increases, the maternity rules stay the same. The United States as a country does not have a maternity leave mandate, but there are states within the country that have created their own mandates.

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Maternity Leave in the United States

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=== The United States stands apart from other countries when it comes to maternity leave. Out of 41 counties, the United States is the only one that does not require paid maternity leave. Other countries require a minimum of 2 months paid maternity leave. There are other countries, such as Estonia, that let mothers have more than 18 months of paid maternity leave. While the amount of mothers working part-time and full-time in the United States increases, the maternity rules stay the same. The United States as a country does not have a maternity leave mandate, but there are states within the country that have created their own mandates. === The United States maternity leave policy states that employees who have worked the necessary allotted hours are allowed a total of 12 weeks away from work, unpaid. However, these benefits are only regulated to employers who have more than 50 employees. Smaller businesses or companies with less than 50 people are not required to provide leave for new mothers. While the 12 weeks are intended to be used after a mother gives birth or newly adopts, the time can also be used up if there are complications with the pregnancy that require them to miss work.

The 12 week unpaid policy in the U.S. is being expanded upon in a few states across the country. For example, New Jersey is now offering new mothers and their families the option to enroll in programs that allow them compensation while away from their job. Now, mothers have a way secure income despite not working.

The introduction of a child to some American families results in 43% of new mothers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to face major career changes, varying from abandoning the workforce entirely to exchanging their careers in STEM for part-time work, or a career in another field. While this is true for new mothers, some studies show that both new mothers and fathers report being affected by “flexibility stigma” in the workplace. Flexibility stigma can be defined as the consequences imposed on workers for attempting to balance the responsibilities of their careers and families. It has also been found that career-people of the STEM field with young children face more "work-family" conflict, as the demands of the rigorous STEM field and those of their young children overlap.