Fixed term contract ends before maternity leave starts

What is maternity leave?

Maternity leave is the period when a mother stops working after giving birth, adopting, or starting to foster a child. Women use this crucial time to recover from childbirth, adjust to life with a new child, care for their little one, and bond with their baby.

Studies have shown that maternity leave is beneficial for both a mother and her baby – it's linked to lower infant and child mortality rates, increased initiation and duration of breastfeeding, better mother-baby bonding, and overall improved postpartum mental health.

It also has benefits for employers, as maternity leave has been shown to increase the chances that employees will stay at their jobs long-term.

Unfortunately, the U.S.

is one of only six countries in the world – and the only high-income nation – without a federally mandated paid family leave policy. Lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require four weeks of paid family leave (which would include both maternity leave and paternity l

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