House Members Request Retroactive Paid Parental Leave Coverage

A group of 12 lawmakers is asking that the new paid parental leave program be made available sooner to federal employees experiencing additional work-life burdens during the pandemic.

In a May 8 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the House members ask that the program scheduled to begin in October be applied retroactively to December 2019.

“We have heard recently from numerous pregnant federal workers who face an array of complex challenges, like not being able to count on family and friends for child care assistance because of social distancing, not being able to find safe and appropriate paid child care in the crisis, and navigating difficult or cancelled doctor visits,” wrote House members, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

In December, Congress approved a provision authorizing 12 weeks of paid leave for federal employees upon the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. NTEU led the 20-year fight for paid parental leave and has opposed proposals from the Office of Personnel Management to restrict the program.

NTEU supports this call to allow eligible federal employees to take advantage of the new paid parental leave program during this health crisis.