How many total weeks of paid leave is mandated to new parents by the American federal government?
How accurate was your prediction?
What most surprised you about this?
What is the big story that this chart tells?
Why do you think that the United States, the world’s wealthiest nation, is the only one on this chart to offer ZERO mandated parental leave?
Based only on family leave, would you rather live in a country which offered mandated paternity leave or a country which offered no mandatory parental leave?
Of course, there are also no laws forbidding employers from offering paid parental leave. What kind of people then, get paid parental leave?
What is one consequence of the fact that Americans get zero paid parental leave?
Right now, because of Covid-19, almost every parent is on a type of parental leave. How do you think the coronavirus will impact American’s views about parental leave?
Overall, how do you think the coronavirus will impact American’s views about the size and scope of the U.S. government?
Explain whether you think it is better to leave decisions about parental leave to companies or whether this should be mandated by the government?
What would a libertarian say about this?
Do. you think private companies should be allowed to abuse workers or discriminate against them or should that be regulated by the government?
Because of federalism, do you think that we have similar laws in each state regarding mandated paid parental leave?
Explain whether the data from this chart is good news.
In general, what is American public opinion regarding mandated paid parental leave?*
How much does party identification impact Americans’ views on paternity leave?*
How much does age impact Americans’ views on paternity leave?*
How much does gender and income impact whether Americans actually take parental leave?*
Americans making over $75,000 a year take, on average, TWICE as much paternity leave as Americans making under $30,000 a year. Describe how that impacts the American Dream and Equality of Opportunity.
What about American political culture and values explains why we are the only modern post-industrial (rich) country that does NOT give any mandated paid paternity leave?
What is one positive consequence of not having paid paternal leave?
What is one negative consequence of not having paid paternal leave?
Let’s say you wanted America to have a national policy of mandated paid parental leave. What House or Senate committees might have jurisdiction over this topic?
Let’s say you wanted America to have a national policy of mandated paid parental leave. What interest groups might join you in your fight and how might they partner with you to make this policy happen?
Imagine you wanted to change the rules of paternity leave in the US. What part of the US bureaucracy would be tasked with these sorts of rules?
Explain how US federalism might complicate the issue of a universal paternity leave from the US government?
In the comments section below, explain whether you personally think the US should grant mandated paid leave to mothers or fathers.