Ohio Pushes Added Leave For Maternity

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is pushing for an expansion of the benefits offered under the current paid maternity leave. Right now, Ohio just allows the minimum benefits offered by the Family and Medical Leave Act. These benefits offer workers at businesses with 50 or more employees 12 weeks of unpaid leave for infant care. The expectant mothers must have worked for the business for at least a year, or equivalent to 1,250 hours to be eligible.
Ohio is trying to expand these benefits which would allow that businesses with four or more employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. It would also not matter how long the pregnant mother have worked for the company. Workers who are not eligible under the FMLA would need a doctor’s orders to qualify.
Some businesses are complaining that the expansion of the federal law could hurt businesses, especially those of smaller size. The revisions are going to take place next month. The leader of the Ohio Commission said that women need to be protected in the labor force, and should not have to suffer for wanting to reproduce.
Some other options to the leave would be decreasing the amount of paid leave to allow flexibility among businesses.