Leaders of the Federally Employed Women and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association have called on Congress to pass a bill that would provide all federal personnel paid parental leave.
NARFE said Monday its National President Richard Thissen and FEW National President Michelle Crockett said Congress should follow the Defense Department’s move to increase paid maternity leave.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Thursday that all servicewomen across all military branches would get 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.
“Providing servicewomen paid time off to care for their newborns shows that DoD understands that if it wants to retain these talented military personnel, it needs to provide benefits that support military families,” Crockett said.
“While that may make sense for the Pentagon, we urge Congress to provide parity when it comes to parents and pass legislation providing paid parental leave for all parents,” added Thissen.
Under the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, federal workers would get six weeks of paid leave for the birth, foster placement and adoption of a child.