Having children is a momentous occasion for anyone and often means big changes in one’s personal life. But for those of us in the working world, our personal lives are often inexorably intertwined with our work lives.
That’s why the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles both men and women to take up to 12 workweeks of job-protected, unpaid leave for the birth or placement of a son or daughter.
Beyond FMLA Requirements
But the FMLA requirements are just a baseline; they don’t, necessarily, represent the ideal situation for many new parents. After all, 12 weeks is slightly less than 4 months. And, while 4 months isn’t a huge amount of time to spend with a newborn, it’s certainly a lot of time to go without a paycheck.
