The demographic timebomb

[Cindy C.]

Catlady:

> Due to the Family and Medical Care Leave Act passed under Clinton, 
>a woman who bears or adopts a baby is entitled to take off four 
>months without pay and still get her job back, 

Well . . . 

I'm not a labor lawyer or anything, but I think the law applies to 
men and women.  It also applies to family members who must take time 
off to care for a sick relative.  Seems humane to me.


>Here in California, women on 
> maternity leave can get paid from Disability Insurance. While I 
> understand that having a baby is a terrible burden, I am less than 
> thrilled with having to do both my own work AND that of a 
>colleague on maternity leave (but not getting her salary in 
>addition to mine). 

Well . . . 

In California, disabled workers are entitled to benefits.  People 
can become disabled in any number of ways, as you might imagine.  
Pregnant women *are* disabled for a time, so they receive the same 
benefits any other disabled worker would receive.  When I lived in 
California, the disability benefit was a fraction of the worker's 
salary and was extended for six weeks, IIRC.

As for whether one should be annoyed at having to cover for a 
disabled worker . . . if one wouldn't object to benefits for someone 
recovering from -- oh, I dunno -- surgery to donate a kidney, then I 
don't see why one would object to benefits for someone recovering 
from childbirth.  A disability is a disability is a disability in my 
book.

Cindy