Parental Leave: What Do Physician Societies Provide for Their Employees?

Parental leave yields significant health benefits for parents and children. While many medical associations endorse parental leave, it is unknown what parental leave they provide for their employees.

To assess parental leave policies of national physician societies for their employees including paid versus unpaid and parity between birth mothers and non-birthing parents.

A cross-sectional analysis in 2023 examined parental leave policies of national physician societies, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and six specialty societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Examination of policies included: duration, whether paid or unpaid; qualifications before receiving benefit; and whether non-birthing, adoptive, and foster parents were covered.

Among the eight societies surveyed, two (25%) did not disclose their policies (ACOG, ACOP), and one (12.5%) lacked a policy (ACOOG). Of the remaining five, two (40%) offered paid leave (AMA, AAP), while three (60%) provided unpaid leave in line with legal requirements (AOA, AAFP, ACOFP). Benefits for non-birthing parents mirrored those for birth mothers, although the AMA offered birth mothers enhanced benefits.

Only a minority of surveyed physician societies provide paid parental leave. Physician societies should consider providing paid parental leave for their employees and making their policies publicly available to promote and model the benefit of paid parental leave.