Comments on: aside: maternity leave

By: Ashley Goff

Ashley Goff — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:24:52 +0000

Church of the Pilgrims has a 3 month leave with 2 of those months paid. We shaped this from the Genessee Valley Presbytery in New York. I called them and they emailed a copy of their policy. I have a copy of our policy if you need something in writing. Brick Presbyterian in NYC also has a great parental leave (something like 6 months!).

By: Susie

Susie — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:54:11 +0000

Could you post that link from Sarah? I’m negotiating a new contract, and maternity leave will be an issue to get in there… and I’m pretty much the only person on a 18-person staff for whom it makes a difference.

By: esperanza

esperanza — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:50:10 +0000

Mission Presbytery has one as well, also on the website…I think under “downloads.” It’s with a bunch of other COM policies.

As for me, I’ll be packing my bags to move to Finland!

Seriously, if you can’t find it and want to read it, send me an email and I’ll do a better job of tracking it down for you.

By: Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:45:58 +0000

I requested and was given two weeks full-time and two weeks part-time paternity leave, which was essential after my wife had a c-section and we had neither grandparents nor an abundance of friends to call on for help.

Leave is SO important for new families, and we in the U.S. just don’t get it. My council took some convincing, most likely because most of our members aren’t offered paid leave - if you want maternity leave, you don’t get paid for it. So much for family values, eh?

By: Lorna

Lorna — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:36:54 +0000

Finland does it well.

With paid maternity leave for 3 months plus 3 weeks for the father … and then another 6 months parenting leave which can be taken by the father or the mother. Plus adopted parents get a little longer.

That doesn’t help you in the USA BUT it’s something to aim for.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:13:33 +0000

I think the presbytery of greater ATL has info on line - family leave - that is pretty reasonable. I’ll send the link when I have a chance to find it. My own PRESBY of S. AL doesn’t have much of one, I don’t think…but I’ll look.