FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2015
Celia Meyer: 248.885.1878
INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM STATEMENT ON THE NAVY MATERNITY LEAVE EXPANSION
A smart move to attract and retain women in the armed services–should businesses follow suit?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 2, the Navy announced they will triple the amount of time of maternity leave. Women will be allocated 18 weeks of maternity leave, compared to the six weeks prior to the ruling. The U.S. Air Force is considering the same paid-leave extension. IWF offered the following statement on the expansion:
Sabrina Schaeffer, IWF executive director, said:
“IWF has done extensive research into what women want in the workplace, and we've learned that women have very different wants and needs. For instance, mothers are generally flexibility maximizers while non-mothers are income maximizers. Some women place a high value on benefit packages, while many others heavily weigh company culture such as bonus structures and employee tenure. It sounds like the Navy is making the right decision for their goals and needs, but we ought to be careful not to assume this is the best approach for all businesses. Lawmakers need to allow employers and employees the freedom and flexibility to create work environments that suit their needs."
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Independent Women's Forum works to improve the lives of Americans by increasing the number of women who value free-markets and personal liberty.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Celia Meyer
Communications Associate
248.885.1878 | [email protected]