Arguments for Retroactive Paid Parental Leave

[PaidParentalLeave]

I put together a document (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMeFVZ4dmAnpgyy1w-wfqiUUeAmfo-4p/view?usp=sharing) with arguments supporting the idea of retroactive paid parental leave for federal employees; that is, arguments for extending the upcoming paid parental leave to cover births between December 20, 2019 (the date the 2020 NDAA passed) and September 30, 2020. I think it is unlikely at this point that Congress will pass any legislation supporting the idea of retroactive parental leave, but it never hurts to reach out to your representatives and senators. I also suggest appealing to leadership at your own agency to see whether it is possible to create a new category of leave to cover these new parents. While I don't think this is possible, independent agencies like the FAA and the FDIC did it, so maybe there is hope. Either way, I think it is an important conversation to have since this affects approximately 50000 federal employees. The document touches on a lot of issues, such as:

* the FEPLA diverges from existing paid parental leave programs,
* maternal and paternal health suffers during the pandemic,
* the fear new parents have of COVID-19,
* the uneven implementation of existing OPM guidance for caregivers,
* the FEPLA harms retention,
* Congress members support retroactive leave,
* other agencies offer paid parental leave, and
* estimated costs.

While my short document cannot elucidate the problem as well as things like a huge study by the UK government (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmpetitions/526/52602.htm) can do, I hope this gets across the point that new parents are suffering and could benefit from the leave. Even without the pandemic, a good argument can be made that the law was written poorly and should cover parents from the day it passed in December 2019.

Also, if you are not a federal employee, many of the arguments and references are useful for trying to get paid parental leave implemented at your own employer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this. I’m one of those who missed the current cut off.

[Anonymous]

There's always a cut off and people on the other side of it always feel shafted. I'm just trying not to hold onto bitterness about it and be happy its here for the people coming after me.

- had my third baby as a federal employee on November 25, 2019