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The parental leave debate: implications for policy relevant research
P M McGovern1, D K Gjerdingen, D G Froberg
1School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Women & Health
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Parental leave legislation is debated due to workforce changes and presumed benefits like improved parent-child bonding. However, empirical evidence is lacking, and employer costs are minimal, primarily health insurance premiums.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Policy
- Labor Economics
- Family Studies
Background:
- Intense legislative debate surrounds parental and family medical leave at national and state levels.
- Proponents cite women's labor force participation and infant care shortages as drivers for policy.
- Assumed benefits include improved women's health and parent-child bonding, though empirical evidence is absent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on parental and family medical leave legislation.
- To examine the purported benefits and employer costs associated with such policies.
- To identify a research agenda for developing rational and humane policy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of legislative activity and arguments.
- Analysis of reported benefits and employer cost data.
- Examination of empirical evidence supporting policy assumptions.
Main Results:
- No direct empirical evidence supports the presumed benefits of parental leave policies.
- Measurable net costs to employers are limited to health insurance premiums for leave takers.
- Opponents' concerns about burdensome employer costs are largely unsubstantiated by available data.
Conclusions:
- The existing literature highlights a gap in empirical evidence for the benefits of parental leave.
- Employer costs appear minimal, primarily concerning health insurance premiums.
- A policy-relevant research agenda is crucial for informed and equitable family leave policy development.