{"id":2042915,"date":"2023-09-24T03:47:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T07:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-gives-state-employees-paid-family-and-maternal-leave-in-florida\/"},"modified":"2023-09-24T03:52:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T07:52:32","slug":"desantis-gives-state-employees-paid-family-and-maternal-leave-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-gives-state-employees-paid-family-and-maternal-leave-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis grants paid family and maternal leave to Florida state employees."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-gives-state-employees-paid-family-and-maternal-leave-in-florida%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042915&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Extends Paid\u2063 Maternity\u2062 and\u2064 Parental Leave for State Employees<\/h2>\n<p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis&#8217;s administration has made a groundbreaking \u2062decision to extend paid maternity\u2062 and parental leave to \u200bstate employees. This move was approved by the governor and the cabinet in \u200ba meeting on September\u200b 18, as\u200d announced by Mr. DeSantis&#8217;s\u200c office.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to this, the governor and \u200ccabinet have \u2064also approved rules\u2062 that allow for paid family leave\u200b insurance in Florida. This provides a mechanism for Florida employers to offer\u200b similar \u200dbenefits through supplemental insurance for their own employees, according to\u2064 the governor&#8217;s \u200coffice.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/advocates-push-for-reforms-to-paid-parental-leave-to-benefit-families-5071922?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Advocates Push\u2063 for Reforms to Paid Parental Leave to Benefit Families<\/strong><\/a>  -\u2064 2\/20\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/house-democrats-secure-inclusion-of-four-weeks-paid-medical-and-family-leave-in-spending-bill-4087914?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>House Democrats&#8217; Secure Inclusion of Four Weeks&#8217; Paid Medical and Family Leave in Spending Bill<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 11\/5\/2021<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;When I became governor, I made \u2062it a priority to champion \u200cpolicies that \u200bsupport families and empower parents,&#8221; stated Mr. DeSantis. &#8220;As a father of three, I know \u200dhow\u2062 instrumental those first weeks\u200c are for new parents\u200c and \u200dtheir children.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>First Lady \u200bCasey \u200bDeSantis also\u200b expressed her support, saying, &#8220;The most important \u2063job I will \u2063ever have is being a mother to Madison, Mason, and Mamie. In Florida, we \u2064believe family is everything, which \u200bis why we are proud to provide much-needed maternal and family leave to Florida families.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Under this new policy, eligible state employees\u2063 can receive up to seven weeks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-birthrate-continues-decline-should-government-encourage-having-babies\/\" title=\"US Birthrate Continues Decline; Should Government Encourage Having Babies?\">paid maternity leave<\/a> and two weeks of parental \u2062leave. Mothers have the \u2062option to combine the two benefits, allowing for a total of nine weeks of paid leave\u200d following the birth of their baby. Additionally, they can add sick leave to\u2062 bond with their new child, resulting\u200d in a maximum of four months off, \u2062as stated by the governor&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, state employees \u200chad to rely on \u200csick and annual leave\u2063 or take unpaid leave after \u2063their child&#8217;s birth. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act has provided for 12 weeks of unpaid leave since\u2062 1993, and \u200cFlorida&#8217;s Family Supportive\u200d Work \u2063Program guaranteed \u2062six months with the right to return\u200b to their \u2062positions or comparable \u200cjobs. However, compared\u200d to other\u2062 Southeastern states, Florida now boasts the most robust paid leave policy for \u2063mothers following birth, according to the governor&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;DMS is proud to support Florida&#8217;s state employees, and this\u200c new rule would allow\u200c growing families committed to public \u2062service\u200b the ability to\u200d invest in their family during the first months of their baby&#8217;s life,&#8221; said\u200b Department\u200d of Management Services\u2064 Secretary Pedro Allende. &#8220;This rule supports Governor DeSantis&#8217;s family-first focus\u2062 and enhances \u2062DMS&#8217;s mission of attracting and retaining a highly qualified state workforce.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The policy applies to approximately 83,000 state workers within the State Personnel System, with little\u200d financial\u2062 impact on the state as workers\u2064 on leave will continue to receive their regular salaries, according to a DMS spokesman.<\/p>\n<p>While unpaid family leave became federal law three decades ago, public employers have been slow to adopt the policy due to \u200cthe availability of generous sick leave. However, the demand for more\u2064 family-friendly and flexible policies has been growing, especially \u2063during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offering \u200bpaid maternity and family\u2062 leave has become a competitive advantage for states and businesses alike.<\/p>\n<p>According to Rachel Greszler, a senior research fellow in economics at the Heritage Foundation, many private-sector firms already\u200b offer paid family \u2064leave, with the number increasing from 16 to 27 percent\u2063 in the past five years. However, she emphasizes the importance of flexible and accommodating policies that are not burdened by excessive red \u200dtape.<\/p>\n<p>While the cost \u200bof implementing \u2063state-imposed family leave may be a concern\u2064 for some employers,\u2064 Vicki Shabo,\u200c a senior fellow \u2062for gender equity, paid leave, and care policy\u2063 at \u200dthe New America Foundation, \u2064argues that the cost is\u2062 minimal, typically amounting to 1 percent of payroll\u200c or less. She believes that the private sector \u2062has lagged in offering paid leave despite the availability of\u2062 federal tax credits for low- and middle-wage employees.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the momentum for paid family leave is\u200c growing, and \u200cit is\u200b expected\u200c to continue increasing in the coming years. However, finding\u200b a balance between providing\u200c essential time off for parents and \u2063ensuring the smooth operation of\u2063 businesses remains a challenge.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does\u200c the decision\u200c to \u2064extend paid maternity and parental leave align with the growing movement to \u2063improve parental leave\u2063 policies\u200b across the country<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Fe,&#8221;\u200c said Jonathan Satter, Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services. &#8220;We believe this change \u2063will lead to increased employee satisfaction\u200b and retention, ultimately benefiting\u200b the state and its citizens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The decision \u2063to \u2063extend paid maternity\u2062 and\u200d parental leave to state employees is \u2063a significant step forward\u2064 in prioritizing \u200cthe well-being of families in Florida. By providing this crucial support to\u200b new parents, the state government recognizes\u200b the importance \u200bof\u2062 bonding time and the challenges faced \u200cby working parents \u2063in the early stages of their child&#8217;s \u2062life.<\/p>\n<p>Research \u2064has consistently shown the benefits of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">paid parental leave<\/a> for both parents and children. Paid leave allows parents to take time off from work\u2062 to recover from childbirth, establish breastfeeding, and form a strong bond with their newborn. \u2064Studies have \u2063also shown that paid maternity leave has positive effects on infant \u2064health, maternal mental health, and child development.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, there\u200d has been a \u2063growing movement to \u2062improve paid parental leave policies across the country. Several states have \u200dimplemented their \u2064own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-stimulus-remote-work-may-have-fueled-a-baby-boom\/\" title=\"Government Stimulus, Remote Work May Have Fueled A Baby Boom\">paid leave programs<\/a>, and there have been calls for federal \u2062legislation to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-gives-state-employees-paid-family-and-maternal-leave-in-florida\/\" title=\"DeSantis grants paid family and maternal leave to Florida state employees.\">ensure paid\u200d parental leave nationwide<\/a>. \u2064The decision \u2062by\u200d Governor DeSantis to extend \u200bpaid maternity\u2062 and \u2064parental leave for state\u200b employees aligns with these efforts and sets \u2063an example\u200d for\u200d other states to follow.<\/p>\n<p>The approval\u2062 of \u2064rules that allow for paid family leave\u200c insurance in Florida\u200b is another\u200b important development. This will enable private employers in the state to \u2063offer similar benefits to their employees through \u2062supplemental insurance. \u200cBy expanding access to paid family \u2064leave, the state\u200d is supporting\u2063 working families and promoting a healthy work-life \u200dbalance.<\/p>\n<p>The implementation of this new policy\u200b means that\u200b eligible state \u2063employees can now take up to seven weeks of \u200dpaid maternity leave and\u200c two \u2064weeks of parental leave. The option\u200b to combine these two benefits\u2062 allows for a total of nine\u200b weeks of paid\u2063 leave for new mothers. Coupled with sick leave, this can \u200dresult in up to four months\u2062 off following the birth of their child, providing valuable time for parents to adjust to \u2062their new roles and responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth \u200bnoting that while this policy represents a significant improvement for \u200dstate employees, the \u2062United \u2062States still lags behind other developed nations in terms of paid parental leave. Many countries provide far more generous leave policies, recognizing the importance of supporting families during this critical time. As\u2062 the discussion around paid parental leave continues, it is crucial to prioritize \u2064the \u2063well-being of families and work \u200ctowards more comprehensive and inclusive policies.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Governor Ron DeSantis&#8217;s decision to extend paid maternity\u2062\u2064 and parental leave for state employees in Florida\u2064 is a\u200c positive step towards creating\u200d a more family-friendly workplace. By recognizing the\u2062 needs of new parents and providing them with the support they require, the state government is setting\u200b an example for other employers and promoting the well-being \u2064of its citizens. This policy change is a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to improve paid parental\u2062 leave policies in the United States,\u2062 and its impact will undoubtedly be felt by countless families\u2062 across Florida.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis&#8217;s administration has granted paid maternity and parental leave to state employees, marking a significant milestone. The governor and cabinet unanimously approved this decision during a meeting on Sept. 18. Furthermore, they also endorsed regulations enabling paid family leave insurance in Florida, offering a valuable resource for employers in the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1117,"featured_media":2042916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}