Women open up about issues with maternity leave
While having a newborn baby can be an extremely exciting and happy time, taking maternity leave after giving birth can cause stress, anxiety, and financial dilemmas. As the United States federal government does not mandate paid maternity leave, many new mothers are forced to either go back to work too soon after having a baby or to endure a financial struggle while attempting to take care of a newborn.
In addition, maternity leave is only job-protected for twelve weeks in the United States. Mothers who go into labor early or need more time off due to complications risk losing their jobs. Even if their jobs remain secure, new parents are often nervous about going back to work after time off to find their offices completely changed and their job security on risky territory.
In addition, new parents often feel torn between wanting to go back to work and wanting to stay home with their babies. Maternity leave in the United States is an ongoing controversial topic that has yet to see much reform. Therefore, several new mothers took to Whisper, the popular app that provides an anonymous platform for people to share their most honest thoughts, to share some shocking confessions about their struggles with maternity leave.
Some bosses just aren't as understanding as one would expect.
A lack of paid maternity leave can severely uproot an entire family.
Being on maternity leave can often cause extra stress upon returning to the office.
It's anxiety-provoking to be at home knowing that things in the office are changing without you.
The anxiety can make maternity leave somewhat bittersweet.
Many women are tempted to become stay-at-home parents after experiencing maternity leave.
They may fear losing the bond they've established with their babies after going back to work.
It can be difficult to commit to work again when their minds are on their precious newborns at home.
Especially when they aren't even granted maternity leave despite remaining loyal to their companies for years.
And when companies do grant maternity leave, they may resent those who take it.
Women may feel pressured to go back to work even when their babies aren't ready to part with them yet.
The lack of security that often accompanies maternity leave is infuriating.
Those with unpaid maternity leave have to worry about finances in addition to taking care of a newborn.
Being treated unfairly by employers during maternity leave can lead to a lack of confidence.
There's judgment on both sides of the spectrum. Working mothers often feel that they just can't win either way.
For more maternity leave confessions, check out Whisper.
Watch this video to learn more about the difficulties of maternity leave in the United States:
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