In Bulgaria, by law, new mothers get 26 weeks of paid parental leave. In the United Kingdom and Canada, they get 18 weeks. In Germany, they get 14 weeks, and in Pakistan and India, mothers get 12 weeks paid leave. In the United States, mothers get zero. Oh, new moms and dads in the U.S. can take 12 weeks off under the Family and Medical Leave Act, but they have to burn their sick leave and personal time off, or else go unpaid. In fact, the U.S. is the only country in the world that does not guarantee some amount of paid parental leave. In his 2023 biennial budget, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers includes a proposal to provide for twelve weeks paid parental leave for all public and private sector workers. In addition, the governor is renewing his call to expand the state’s Badger Care program. Sara Rodriguez was elected Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin last November. Before that, Sara worked as an emergency room nurse, an epidemiologist for the Center for Disease Control, and as an analyst for an employee benefits consulting firm. Sara Rodriguez joined the Monday Buzz on March 27, 2023.
