H.R. 5718 would provide that 8 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave.
Detailed Summary
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008 - Allows federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) eight administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave.
Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees.
Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Library of Congress employees.
Requires GAO to study and report on the feasibility and desirability of providing an insurance benefit to federal employees which affords partial or total wage replacement with respect to periods of qualified leave. Defines "qualified leave" as leave that: (1) is available by reason of the need to care for the spouse, child, or parent of the employee having a serious health condition or by reason of a serious health condition affecting the employee that renders such employee unable to perform the functions of his or her position; and (2) would otherwise be leave without pay.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/10/2008: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Don Merideth
May 30, 2008, 5:11pm (report abuse)It is not the employer's job to pay people NOT to work. If federal employees want to take leave that is their perogitive, but it is unfair to the tax paying public to expect them to support these employees during this time. People get paid to do a job. This bill would also increase pressure on private enterprises to provide this kind of ridiculous and ill advised payment, decreasing productivity and making it harder for smaller business entities to compete and survive.
BOB
June 1, 2008, 7:43pm (report abuse)Hey Don - I am a federal employee and oh yeah i pay taxes too. so if i have a baby and i don't have enough time in my sick leave or annual leave(which is only about 2.5 weeks a year) i should just go back to work right away and i guess my wife should too. who cares about letting her and the baby have time together or me to take care of them both. oh incase you didn't know also, i'm not the only federal employee that pays taxes.
Janeane
June 5, 2008, 11:54am (report abuse)Private enterprise employees usually pay into state disability. My neice works for the Federal Government she has 3 weeks vacation built up and is afraid to use any sick leave because of monthly Dr. appointments and if problems arise with the baby. How crappy is that? So after her baby is born, she may have to return to work. What if she has to have a C-Section? Don- I can tell that you have NO children and feel that you should not have to pay for those that do. WOW, thank god not everyone is like you!
patty
June 19, 2008, 1:39pm (report abuse)Don - why don't you try to live in NJ on one federal salary while your spouse stays home--unpaid, without any access to disability. How about we throw in some pregnancy complications in there to boot so your wife has to stay home for 6-8 weeks unplanned and unpaid. Let's see if you would feel the same way