In 2019, Emily Manley of Iowa welcomed the arrival of her son, Jettson. She and her husband worked hard to save money while she was pregnant, but like many moms out there, she wasn't too well-versed in maternity leave policies and the various ways to obtain it.
Her employer at the time, a small local business, didn't offer any paid maternity leave. Instead, she had to use the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for three months of unpaid time off so she could be at home with her newborn son.
Emily says that, according to the policy, "you had to burn through all of your [paid time off] prior to taking leave, so really you didn’t have a choice; you had to take it all before you could start leave."
During those three months, Emily received a job offer from one of her previous employers. This position offered better and more effective benefits for a new mom like her, and she simply couldn't say no.
However, shortly after putting in her two weeks' notice, her previous boss sent her a letter that left her shocked…
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"If there are other women going through this, you’re not alone," Emily told WHO Des Moines.
Watch the video to learn more about maternity leave in the United States.
