IO Letter: Gov. Kasich Off Base on Paid Leave
Kasich is off base on paid parental leave Governor Kasich has yet again shown that he is out of step with the needs of working families and wrong on the facts. When asked about paid time off for new parents (“Paid leave hurts equal pay: Kasich,” January 9), Kasich argued that new mothers might fall behind in their careers, exacerbating the income gap between women and men as justification for opposing paid parental leave. His argument is both wrong and wrongheaded. Studies show women who take paid time off after having a baby actually earn higher incomes in future years than women who do not. That’s because paid leave allows working moms to stay in their job and continue to advance in their careers. However, when paid leave isn’t offered, mothers can be forced to choose between caring for their newborn and continuing to earn their paycheck. When faced with this choice, many women drop out of the work force, which means that when they resume their careers they do so with less experience and ultimately lower pay. Further, paid parental leave shouldn’t be just for moms. In other countries, paid leave for new fathers is provided as a way to narrow the wage gap. That is, when dads leave work to care for a new child, their partners can return to work sooner, and continue advancing in their careers. And men who take parental leave are more likely to share caregiving responsibilities throughout a child’s life, giving their partners freedom to more actively pursue their careers. And no one is arguing for an employer mandate, as Gov. Kasich suggested. Proposals currently pending in Congress would follow the lead of four states that already allow workers to pay into a universal insurance pool that provides partial wage replacement during caregiving leaves. These proposals can actually save employers money. Finally, Kasich’s suggestion that new moms should telecommute ignores both the need for bonding time and the workplace realities of many women. Babies whose moms (or dads) are chained to a computer and telephone all day miss out on those critical benefits. And for the disproportionate share of service, retail and other low-wage workers who are women, telecommuting is not an option. Terra Goodnight Policy Director, Innovation Ohio
Paid Leave Doesn’t Have To Be A Budget Buster For Ohio Cities
Dayton Announces First-Ever Paid Parental Leave Policy
Benefits of Paid Parental Leave
In addition to being a good policy for both employers and employees, paid parental leave also has numerous benefits to individuals and communities. As Innovation Ohio outlined in a report earlier this year, the availability of paid parental leave means that low-wage workers are less inclined to drop out of the workforce and on to public assistance. This not only reduces gender and economic disparities, but it strengthens regional economies. Paid parental leave can also improve critical health outcomes like immunization and infant mortality. A review of global data found that increases in access to paid leave was associated with 22 to 25 percent higher rates of immunization for DPT3, Measles and Polio. Studies from 18 of the world’s largest market-based democracies also found that access to paid leave has decreased in deaths in the first month of life by 2.6 percent and in the first year of life of life by 4.1 percent! We are encouraged that Mayor Whaley and the city of Dayton are leading by example on this important policy. We hope other employers and communities throughout Ohio will follow suit.Please Join us For a Fundraising Reception
We hope you’ll join us to support the work of Innovation Ohio Women’s Watch Initiative
Now is more important than ever to support the work of our Women’s Watch Initiative as we work to push back against extreme legislation that is harmful to women. We hope that you will stand with us as we continue our efforts to advocate for the rights and equality of Ohio’s women.
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In Final Weeks, Ohio Lawmakers Rush to Pass Laws Impacting Women
Ohio may be first state to deny pregnant women healthcare
Boston Passes the City’s First Ever Paid Parental Leave Policy
Review Finds Women Not Getting Coverage Required by ACA
Women may not be getting the health coverage they were guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report by by the National Women’s Law Center, and the Obama administration has warned carriers that the practice must stop. The April report outlined numerous violations by insurers in 15 states, including Ohio, which included excluding dependents from maternity care, limits on breastfeeding services and a failure to provide preventive services and contraception without co-pays or deductibles. Late last month, I joined a panel on Capitol Hill to discuss Innovation Ohio’s partnership with NWLC to address shortcomings in plans offered in Ohio in 2014. Our work led to multiple plans modifying their policies for 2015, but the report found that, despite our work, many violations of the law can still be found in policies sold on the Ohio exchange. The Ohio Department of Insurance, the state agency charged with reviewing and certifying plans for sale on the health exchange and that is headed by Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, was notified of the violations but did not respond. The report was covered by the New York Times, National Public Radio and the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). Following the report’s release, the Obama administration has issued new guidance to insurance carriers that they must cover all FDA-approved forms of contraception without co-pays or deductibles and provide other preventive services to women without cost-sharing. A report on the coverage of women’s health services by Ohio insurers, including the results of a second review of plans offered in 2015, will be released in the coming weeks.
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