Topic: Parental Leave

Florida teacher, fired for premarital sex, has right to a trial, court rules

A teacher at a Christian school, fired in 2009 ostensibly for engaging in premarital sex, can proceed with her lawsuit against the school, a US appeals court ruled Wednesday. She says the real reason she lost her job was pregnancy.

Top 10 states for working moms

Mother's Day companies? That's what you could call workplaces that help moms meet their family commitments. Those companies can be located anywhere. But some states do better than others in mandating a level of standards beyond the federal minimum in the form of paid family leave, job protection, and “right to nurse” laws. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are the Top 10 states that best support new working mothers, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families. Can you guess which state gets the highest marks?

Share of working moms nearing all-time high, but has it gotten any easier?

The percentage of mothers in the workforce is nearing record highs, leading to more societal acceptance and childcare options, but mothers still face a 'mommy wage gap' and other challenges.

Mother's Day report from a mom in Norway, the "best place" to be a mom

The annual Mother's Day report from Save the Children gives the gold to Norway, for the third time, as the best place to be a mother. But from this correspondent's view it seems that Norway pushes mothers into the workplace through economic incentives and pushes kids into public day care in the name of "integrating."

Mother's Day: The unexpected best (and worst) places to be a mom

Mother's Day: Save the Children's annual State of the World's Mothers report offers the best and worst places to be a mom – the US isn't tops.

German powerhouse leaves working mothers behind

Germany's traditional family policies have forced German women to choose between a career and motherhood. The consequences could slow its economic momentum.

Does Supreme Court decision on sick leave hint at health-care law ruling?

The sick leave provision and health-care law rely on different sections of the Constitution, but Supreme Court-watchers noted with interest that the justices found Congress had overstepped its authority.

Forgotten underclass: part-time workers

On Equal Pay Day, let's remember the 27 million part-time workers in America who earn lower pay for the same work done by full-timers – and get denied benefits like sick days. Promoting high-quality, part-time work would restore fairness, raise family incomes, and boost the economy.

Has England eliminated the gender pay gap?

Women in their 20s earn more than men the same age, according to a new study from the UK, but women's earnings drop below men's in their 30s.

Global Gender Gap Index: Iceland tops, France drops, and US breaks into top 20

Iceland is No. 1 and Yemen is ranked last in the World Economic Forum's 2010 Global Gender Gap Index, which measures gender equality.

Top 10 countries for women: Global Gender Gap Index 2010

The World Economic Forum released its 2010 Global Gender Gap Report on Tuesday. The report, which indexed 134 countries this year, evaluates how much of the gender gap each country has eliminated through economic opportunity, health access, education, and political empowerment. Below are the 10 countries that have been most successful. You can also read more about this year's report at our Global News blog.

Bringing up baby in baby-scarce Germany

Germany reports its birthrate is at a historic low. To raise it, the country needs to make some practical changes, such as daycare that is more widely available. But it also needs to change attitudes.

Japan sinks (even) lower on gender discrimination report

The gender gap yawns wide, despite Japan's female astronaut and new antidiscrimination laws. The World Economic Forum recently downgraded Japan three spots to 101st place on its latest gender discrimination report.

Mother's Day: Why Australia is the second-best place to be a mom

A Save the Children report timed for Mother's Day names Australia as the second-best place to be a mom. Norway won the top honor.

International women's day: Which nation has smallest pay gap for women?

Several European nations boast smaller pay gaps than the United States, says a new study released on International Women's Day.

Is Canada more pro-family than America?

Canadian families get generous parental leave, childcare subsidies, and guaranteed healthcare. Critics claim America can’t afford to follow suit, but it’s increasingly clear that it can’t afford not to.

Old maternity leave won't count toward pensions, Supreme Court rules

AT&T's decision to exclude pregnancy leave taken before the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act from pensions today is not illegal discrimination, the court said.

Today's news stories: Tamil Tigers, Supreme Court, NRA, Netanyahu

Companies make room for baby

Despite distractions, they offer this unusual benefit to retain workers.

Maternity leave: Expectant moms wait 'til the last minute

With no US laws requiring paid leave, more mothers stay on the job longer, saving time off until after the baby arrives.