The UK Court of Appeal ruled in late May that it is not sex discrimination for employers to enhance maternity pay but only provide the statutory rate of shared parental pay.
Darby Saxbe, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The transition to parenthood comes with plenty of stress. A psychology researcher suggests that paid family leave could help lift some of the burden – with positive health benefits down the road.
This penalty can amount to more than 15 percent of a mom’s paycheck. Ramping up paid maternity leave and high-quality child care would probably help narrow the gap.
The potential for exploitation is rife in the international market for breast milk. Fair trade and fair pay regulations are crucial to protect consumers in Australia and suppliers abroad.
The nation needs a more comprehensive approach to family leave and relief for parents with child care expenses. But the proposals the Trump team rolled out initially fell short.