Expanding Paid Paternity Leave in the Military

With Father’s Day soon approaching, it is a good opportunity to think about all the policies that exist and ought to exist to support families, especially paid parental leave.  Even in the military, paternity leave, after the birth or adoption of a child, is offered to service members is far less than what is offered to women. Currently, women in the military receive 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, while their male colleagues receive only 14 days.

While paid leave is still far too rare for men and women alike in the United States, men have less access to substantial leave policies.. All employers are required to offer unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, but many employers that offer paid leave do not provide the same benefit to men that they provide for women. According to the Department of Labor, only 13 percent of men who take parental leave received pay, compared with 21 percent for women. And we know that for too many, unpaid leave is simply unaffordable. 46 percent of individuals who need leave but don’t take it cited an inability to afford the time off.

The military has recognized the need to expand paid leave for its employees. Back in January, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that female service members would receive 12 paid weeks of family leave, six weeks more than female members of the Army and Air Force had been receiving before that point. Paternity leave was also increased from 10 to 14 days. The change was implemented as part of a package of proposals designed to help service members balance the commitment they have made to defend the United States with the commitment they have to care for their families.

Recognizing the lack of appropriate paid paternity leave, Representative Tammy Duckworth (IL) has introduced the Military Parental Leave Modernization Act (H.R. 4796). The bill would expand the twelve week leave policy to all members of the military regardless of their gender. Under this legislation, paid leave would be extended to fathers, and to parents who adopt to spend time with their children. In families where both parents serve in the military, they would each be eligible for time off to take care of children.

Many Reform Jews pray for the safety of our troops, recognizing the deep sacrifice they make for both their country and their families. Rabbi Matt Friedman’s “Prayer for Memorial Day” calls on all of us to care for those who have devoted their lives to protect us:

“May it be Your will that world hostilities come to a rapid end and that those in service are returned safely to their families….Let us ask God to protect, heal and comfort those who serve. And let us, by praying, raise our own awareness and sense of responsibility and appreciation for those who defend our country.”

Surely we can at least provide a fair leave policy to those who do so much for each of us.

In addition to changing the rules on parental leave in the military, there is also legislation to broaden access to paid family and medical leave to workers nationwide. The FAMILY Act (H.R. 1439/S. 786) would provide 12 weeks of partially paid leave to all workers. Take action today and urge Congress to pass the FAMILY Act by sending a letter to your Members of Congress. Also visit the RAC’s page on labor issues to learn about other ways to advance the rights of all workers.