this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
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Pregnant people in New York would have 40 hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments under a new proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul after the state’s legislative session kicked off this week.

The Democrat’s plan to expand the state’s paid family leave policy, which would need to be approved by the state Legislature, aims to expand access to high-quality prenatal care and prevent maternal and infant deaths in New York, an issue that especially affects low-income and minority communities.

The U.S. infant mortality rate, a measure of how many babies die before they reach their first birthday, is worse than other high-income countries, which experts have attributed to poverty, inadequate prenatal care and other possibilities. The U.S. rate rose 3% in 2022 — the largest increase in two decades, according to a 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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[–] derf82@lemmy.world 59 points 2 years ago (5 children)

I really wish someday there would be more a push for paid leave for EVERYONE.

I do not begrudge parents paid parental leave and think it should be offered. But it would be nice if someone were to consider doing something, anything for the rest of us. Instead, we only get the extra work of picking up the slack.

[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 25 points 2 years ago (12 children)

This is leave to attend prenatal medical appointments, not vacation time. They don’t schedule those for funsies, it’s to see if you or your fetus might die.

Like, yes, everyone deserves more time off. At the same time, prenatal healthcare in the US is inaccessible for many and it has lifelong or even deadly consequences. Framing this as a “time off” issue instead of an “able to afford access to medical care” issue is missing what’s causing the need for this in the first place.

[–] derf82@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Do you think pregnant people are the only ones that need to go to the doctor? They could still make it medical only and apply to everyone.

And medical care or vacation, you think the rest of us don’t have to pick up the slack just the same?

The fact is, the US is doing it wrong. Other countries have more generous family leave, but it is a government benefit, not employer-paid. That often lets employers hire temporary replacements regather than be short staffed. Also, they offer ample vacation benefits so everyone else isn’t burnt out.

[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Do you not understand that pregnancy is a high risk condition (even outside high risk pregnancies, you are already more medically fragile just from pregnancy)?

Why are so you insistent that everyone has to benefit from policies that are aimed at fixing infant and maternal death rates in the US, which I will emphasize again are comparable to developing nations and not industrialized nations?

Why are you crying about “picking up slack” when pregnant people are literally dying due to lack of access to prenatal appointments? I’m sorry but wake the fuck up. This is not a vacation. It’s not a visit to the dentist. If you think it’s more important to make sure everyone is treated the same than it is to address people and infants dying in childbirth then you have your head screwed on backwards.

[–] derf82@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Do you not understand that pregnancy is a high risk condition (even outside high risk pregnancies, you are already more medically fragile just from pregnancy)?

Do you think pregnancy is the only high-risk condition there is? Screw people with diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, ALS, lupus, Crohn's disease, schizophrenia, and a litany of other health problems, I guess.

Why are so you insistent that everyone has to benefit from policies that are aimed at fixing infant and maternal death rates in the US, which I will emphasize again are comparable to developing nations and not industrialized nations?

Why are we only worried about infant and maternal deaths and not all deaths?

Why are you crying about “picking up slack” when pregnant people are literally dying due to lack of access to prenatal appointments? I’m sorry but wake the fuck up. This is not a vacation. It’s not a visit to the dentist. If you think it’s more important to make sure everyone is treated the same than it is to address people and infants dying in childbirth then you have your head screwed on backwards.

People are literally dying of cancer and other diseases and don't get paid time off, either. I never said it was a vacation. And people need more healthcare than just going to the dentist.

If you think it’s more important to make sure everyone is treated the same than it is to address people and infants dying in childbirth then you have your head screwed on backwards.

Why is it a choice? If everyone gets medical leave, does this not address the issue for women and children as well? Where is this false dichotomy coming from?

Sorry I think equal pay for equal work is such a good concept. Since I am expected to do more work, perhaps men and the childfree should be paid more.

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[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As someone who chose not to have kids, I still support special PTO and medical leave for people who decide to have kids.

The population is aging where I live, and I would like to incentivize people to make future tax payers and future people that I can pay to wipe my ass when I’m old.

The next generation is an investment in my future wellbeing even if I didn’t have kids.

[–] derf82@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Do you really think it is 40 hours of leave for prenatal appointments, or even long parental leave that is stopping people from having kids? No, it's expensive childcare, unaffordable healthcare, low wages, low time off generally, as well as a garbage world that seems to be circling the drain due to climate change and pollution. My workplace actually does already offer 40 hours for prenatal care along with 12 weeks paid leave after birth, and I still have zero intention of having kids. I don't make enough money anyway, and even then, I don't want them to have to live in a climate change hellscape.

And I personally think we are overpopulated and declining population would be good. How cruel to think people should have kids just so those kids can wipe our ass in the future. In fact, when the times comes that I can't wipe my ass, I hope we have options, because I would choose euthanasia.

Again, that is not to speak against paid parental leave. But everybody gets sick. Everybody gets burned out. Have time for everybody.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (27 children)

Sure, there are a lot of things that discourage people from having kids. This is only one factor but let’s start with one factor: I’ll also support the next.

I’ve already had my kids, not as many as I wanted due to starting late, but I love them like crazy. I also see the long term trend of population decline and am very concerned about society’s future. I’m all for giving future parents benefits that I never had, future children more chances to survive and grow into their potential

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[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It’s not for encouraging people to have kids.

It’s for the people already pregnant to not fucking die or have a miscarriage due to being unable to go to necessary regular prenatal checkups.

[–] derf82@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

I was responding to someone that said "I would like to incentivize people to make future tax payers" so yes, some people think this is to encourage people to have kids.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

We make it unnecessarily difficult to have children, we don’t give them sufficient opportunity to survive and grow into their potential, but the long term population trend is looking grim.

Yes, let’s start removing the obstacles that block having children. Yes, let’s put some effort into helping them survive. Yes. Let’s give their parents a way to have them cared for while they earn a living. Yes, let’s give them a better education to grow into their potential. Yes, let’s set up the safety nets so a treatable Illness doesn’t make them fall out of society and splatter onto the rocks

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[–] jonne 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Agreed, they always have to carve out this stuff for deserving people, and it's just making things more complicated and divisive.

This mindset of absolutely making sure nobody could possibly abuse something is really terrible policy.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

I vote every one gets 200 hours of paid leave a year, with no questions asked unless it’s sudden. (Then some brief vague questions about why.)

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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 49 points 2 years ago (5 children)

The US, the last western country lacking maternity leave. Compare that to what other countries do, providing months of maternity leave.

[–] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

It's a shame the entire country doesn't have it, but many states including New York do already. One advantage of a federal system I guess.

Here's a summary of parental leave by state if curious.

https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/maternity-leave-laws-by-state/

There really should be a national requirement though.

[–] RainfallSonata@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The Federal FMLA is unpaid yes. Many individual states have their own paid leave policies though. The link I posted shows you the policies in each state.

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[–] Mrkawfee@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (9 children)

Don't be harsh. They have to give all their money to Israel. There is very little left for US citizens.

[–] SwampYankee@mander.xyz 3 points 2 years ago

Regardless of the implications of what happens with the aid that's given to Israel, it's a tiny slice of the federal budget. It has absolutely zero to do with why we don't prioritize taking care of our citizens' health.

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[–] a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The U.S. infant mortality rate [...] is worse than other high-income countries, which experts have attributed to poverty, ...

the wealth gap gets bigger every day.

[–] Ibex0@lemmy.world 21 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I appreciate the effort, but the nationwide infant mortality rate is lead by Republican states.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_infant_mortality_rates

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Wooo hooo, MASSACHUSETTS!

.. omg, there are ten states that are more than double?

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 19 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Should be closer to 6 or 7 days to meet prenatal visit recommendations, but not bad. Prenatal care disparities is thought to be a major contributing factor in just why so many black women die in childbirth.

[–] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Breaking news - New York to upgrade human rights to 20th century lol

[–] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

The proposal above isn't about paid parental leave which New York already has (and it's even more flexible than that actually and can be applied to other situations besides a new child), it's about adding additional paid time off while pregnant to help with prenatal care appointments and things.

Here's more info on New York's current paid leave laws if curious: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/

They're already more flexible than just parental leave, but glad they're adding some time while pregnant as another situation of guaranteed paid leave.

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[–] badbytes@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)
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[–] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago
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