[Music] this is my son Gabriel who I had while
this is my son Gabriel who I had while
this is my son Gabriel who I had while living abroad in Germany not only does
living abroad in Germany not only does
living abroad in Germany not only does Germany have great beer but great
Germany have great beer but great
Germany have great beer but great maternity leave when I told my boss I
maternity leave when I told my boss I
maternity leave when I told my boss I was newly pregnant he said
was newly pregnant he said
was newly pregnant he said congratulations let’s talk about who
congratulations let’s talk about who
congratulations let’s talk about who were going to apprentice in to your role
were going to apprentice in to your role
were going to apprentice in to your role as it was expected I would be out for at
as it was expected I would be out for at
as it was expected I would be out for at least a year
least a year
least a year see I was entitled to one year
see I was entitled to one year
see I was entitled to one year government stipend pay leave and up to
government stipend pay leave and up to
government stipend pay leave and up to three years of job protected leave
three years of job protected leave
three years of job protected leave during that year I was able to go on my
during that year I was able to go on my
during that year I was able to go on my journey into motherhood and not worry
journey into motherhood and not worry
journey into motherhood and not worry whether or not my job would be there
whether or not my job would be there
whether or not my job would be there when I got back
when I got back
when I got back I’d miss benefits or career
I’d miss benefits or career
I’d miss benefits or career opportunities or be perceived as less
opportunities or be perceived as less
opportunities or be perceived as less committed by my colleagues instead I
committed by my colleagues instead I
committed by my colleagues instead I didn’t have to make that difficult
didn’t have to make that difficult
didn’t have to make that difficult everyday choice between a newborn and a
everyday choice between a newborn and a
everyday choice between a newborn and a job no guilt no fear just simple
job no guilt no fear just simple
job no guilt no fear just simple acceptance that a mother should be with
acceptance that a mother should be with
acceptance that a mother should be with a new baby now contrast that with the
a new baby now contrast that with the
a new baby now contrast that with the birth of my second son here in the US
birth of my second son here in the US
birth of my second son here in the US after we moved back to the US and we
after we moved back to the US and we
after we moved back to the US and we were considering having another child I
were considering having another child I
were considering having another child I quickly realized the conversation here
quickly realized the conversation here
quickly realized the conversation here is framed more around career versus
is framed more around career versus
is framed more around career versus family in addition it became evident
family in addition it became evident
family in addition it became evident that there still exists many taboos in
that there still exists many taboos in
that there still exists many taboos in the workplace for example when I’d ask
the workplace for example when I’d ask
the workplace for example when I’d ask colleagues what do I need to do when
colleagues what do I need to do when
colleagues what do I need to do when taking parental leave here in the u.s. I
taking parental leave here in the u.s. I
taking parental leave here in the u.s. I was told to keep it hidden as long as
was told to keep it hidden as long as
was told to keep it hidden as long as possible
possible
possible now I lived in Germany for almost over
now I lived in Germany for almost over
now I lived in Germany for almost over eight years at first I didn’t understand
eight years at first I didn’t understand
eight years at first I didn’t understand what it was until I realized it was the
what it was until I realized it was the
what it was until I realized it was the baby I was supposed to keep
baby I was supposed to keep
baby I was supposed to keep the baby hidden as long as possible how
the baby hidden as long as possible how
the baby hidden as long as possible how was I to do that some of the advice I
was I to do that some of the advice I
was I to do that some of the advice I received was to tuck in my shirt wear
received was to tuck in my shirt wear
received was to tuck in my shirt wear loose-fitting clothing buy a cardigan
you may have heard the u.s. is the only
you may have heard the u.s. is the only industrialized nation to not offer paid
industrialized nation to not offer paid
industrialized nation to not offer paid leave when I hear that headline
leave when I hear that headline
leave when I hear that headline I think of a map that looks like this
I think of a map that looks like this
I think of a map that looks like this you know depicting industrialized versus
you know depicting industrialized versus
you know depicting industrialized versus non industrialized countries causing me
non industrialized countries causing me
non industrialized countries causing me to think surely there must be a bunch of
to think surely there must be a bunch of
to think surely there must be a bunch of non industrialized countries that don’t
non industrialized countries that don’t
non industrialized countries that don’t offer pay leave
offer pay leave
offer pay leave however this headline does not paint an
however this headline does not paint an
however this headline does not paint an accurate picture of reality the reality
accurate picture of reality the reality
accurate picture of reality the reality is this this is how the rest of the
is this this is how the rest of the
is this this is how the rest of the world thinks of paid maternity leave all
world thinks of paid maternity leave all
world thinks of paid maternity leave all the countries in blue have a mandated
the countries in blue have a mandated
the countries in blue have a mandated paid leave policy on the books all the
paid leave policy on the books all the
paid leave policy on the books all the countries in black do not three Papua
countries in black do not three Papua
countries in black do not three Papua New Guinea Suriname and the United
New Guinea Suriname and the United
New Guinea Suriname and the United States now granted some of the countries
States now granted some of the countries
States now granted some of the countries in blue do not afford the same level of
in blue do not afford the same level of
in blue do not afford the same level of economic opportunity to women as in the
economic opportunity to women as in the
economic opportunity to women as in the US but a 1996 report to the US Congress
US but a 1996 report to the US Congress
US but a 1996 report to the US Congress on family medical leave policies found
on family medical leave policies found
on family medical leave policies found that a hundred percent of the women who
that a hundred percent of the women who
that a hundred percent of the women who didn’t take or who were eligible for the
didn’t take or who were eligible for the
didn’t take or who were eligible for the unpaid leave and didn’t take it did so
unpaid leave and didn’t take it did so
unpaid leave and didn’t take it did so because they could not afford to right
because they could not afford to right
because they could not afford to right now in the United States the Family
now in the United States the Family
now in the United States the Family Medical Leave Act or FMLA affords 12
Medical Leave Act or FMLA affords 12
Medical Leave Act or FMLA affords 12 weeks of job protected leave that means
weeks of job protected leave that means
weeks of job protected leave that means your job is there for 12 weeks but you
your job is there for 12 weeks but you
your job is there for 12 weeks but you do not get paid
do not get paid
do not get paid and because FMLA excludes part-time
and because FMLA excludes part-time
and because FMLA excludes part-time workers and employees who’ve been at
workers and employees who’ve been at
workers and employees who’ve been at their companies for less than a year 40%
their companies for less than a year 40%
their companies for less than a year 40% of our population actually gets nothing
let me be absolutely clear it is
let me be absolutely clear it is imperative the united states pass a paid
imperative the united states pass a paid
imperative the united states pass a paid family leave law the data is undeniable
family leave law the data is undeniable
family leave law the data is undeniable on the positive health and economic
on the positive health and economic
on the positive health and economic outcomes a country experiences when
outcomes a country experiences when
outcomes a country experiences when enacting paid parental leave research
enacting paid parental leave research
enacting paid parental leave research has linked a laundry list of improved
has linked a laundry list of improved
has linked a laundry list of improved outcomes with longer maternity leave
outcomes with longer maternity leave
outcomes with longer maternity leave such as decreased maternal depression
such as decreased maternal depression
such as decreased maternal depression rates increased child immunization rates
rates increased child immunization rates
rates increased child immunization rates longer breastfeeding times a 2011 study
longer breastfeeding times a 2011 study
longer breastfeeding times a 2011 study of a hundred and forty-one countries
of a hundred and forty-one countries
of a hundred and forty-one countries found that with an increase of ten weeks
found that with an increase of ten weeks
found that with an increase of ten weeks of paid maternity leave its associated
of paid maternity leave its associated
of paid maternity leave its associated with a ten percent reduction in the
with a ten percent reduction in the
with a ten percent reduction in the infant mortality rate elements of the
infant mortality rate elements of the
infant mortality rate elements of the paid leave business case make into our
paid leave business case make into our
paid leave business case make into our headlines on almost a daily basis and I
headlines on almost a daily basis and I
headlines on almost a daily basis and I want to take a moment to thank the many
want to take a moment to thank the many
want to take a moment to thank the many women and men who are currently fighting
women and men who are currently fighting
women and men who are currently fighting for paid family leave in the u.s. today
for paid family leave in the u.s. today
for paid family leave in the u.s. today their work is essential to the health
their work is essential to the health
their work is essential to the health and prosperity of our country however
and prosperity of our country however
and prosperity of our country however there is some information that doesn’t
there is some information that doesn’t
there is some information that doesn’t make it into our headlines especially
make it into our headlines especially
make it into our headlines especially how technology could help erase the
how technology could help erase the
how technology could help erase the workplace taboos that I experienced
workplace taboos that I experienced
workplace taboos that I experienced decrease the gender wage gap improve
decrease the gender wage gap improve
decrease the gender wage gap improve equality in the work and home this
equality in the work and home this
equality in the work and home this combination of policy plus technology is
combination of policy plus technology is
combination of policy plus technology is something I like to call policy
something I like to call policy
something I like to call policy effectiveness let’s go back to my
effectiveness let’s go back to my
effectiveness let’s go back to my Germany example remember the generous
Germany example remember the generous
Germany example remember the generous pay leave policy 14 months of government
pay leave policy 14 months of government
pay leave policy 14 months of government stipend leave split between moms and
stipend leave split between moms and
stipend leave split between moms and dads and up to three years of job
dads and up to three years of job
dads and up to three years of job protection as generous as that may be
protection as generous as that may be
protection as generous as that may be policy is not necessarily a panacea
policy is not necessarily a panacea
policy is not necessarily a panacea because in Germany the generous policy
because in Germany the generous policy
because in Germany the generous policy combined with lack of affordable quality
combined with lack of affordable quality
combined with lack of affordable quality childcare actually encourages women to
childcare actually encourages women to
childcare actually encourages women to to
to
to acceptable alternatives to a
acceptable alternatives to a
acceptable alternatives to a professional career so much so that by
professional career so much so that by
professional career so much so that by the end of 2015 only 6% of managerial
the end of 2015 only 6% of managerial
the end of 2015 only 6% of managerial jobs were held by women at the country’s
jobs were held by women at the country’s
jobs were held by women at the country’s top 200 firms one of the lowest rates
top 200 firms one of the lowest rates
top 200 firms one of the lowest rates across the entire EU now let’s turn the
across the entire EU now let’s turn the
across the entire EU now let’s turn the lens back on the United States this
lens back on the United States this
lens back on the United States this slide shows the number of states that
slide shows the number of states that
slide shows the number of states that offer paid leave in the u.s. today
offer paid leave in the u.s. today
offer paid leave in the u.s. today California New Jersey Rhode Island
California New Jersey Rhode Island
California New Jersey Rhode Island soon-to-be New York and the District of
soon-to-be New York and the District of
soon-to-be New York and the District of Columbia these states have leveraged
Columbia these states have leveraged
Columbia these states have leveraged technology to support their policies but
technology to support their policies but
technology to support their policies but with one major difference that we’re
with one major difference that we’re
with one major difference that we’re seeing compared to these other countries
seeing compared to these other countries
seeing compared to these other countries and that is they are supporting their
and that is they are supporting their
and that is they are supporting their policies only on the form submission
policies only on the form submission
policies only on the form submission process not on the decision-making
process not on the decision-making
process not on the decision-making process so let me pause here for a
process so let me pause here for a
process so let me pause here for a moment and relate this to some other
moment and relate this to some other
moment and relate this to some other examples that we may be more familiar
examples that we may be more familiar
examples that we may be more familiar with this is the equivalent of filing
with this is the equivalent of filing
with this is the equivalent of filing your taxes online without the aid of a
your taxes online without the aid of a
your taxes online without the aid of a software like TurboTax or applying for a
software like TurboTax or applying for a
software like TurboTax or applying for a home mortgage loan without using an
home mortgage loan without using an
home mortgage loan without using an online calculator to see if you can
online calculator to see if you can
online calculator to see if you can afford it or withdrawing from your 401k
afford it or withdrawing from your 401k
afford it or withdrawing from your 401k retirement count and not taking
retirement count and not taking
retirement count and not taking advantage of the retirement planning
advantage of the retirement planning
advantage of the retirement planning tools that are available what I’m trying
tools that are available what I’m trying
tools that are available what I’m trying to say is that when we typically roll
to say is that when we typically roll
to say is that when we typically roll out complex policies like tax and
out complex policies like tax and
out complex policies like tax and retirement we usually combine them with
retirement we usually combine them with
retirement we usually combine them with technology decision support tools
technology decision support tools
technology decision support tools however when we typically talk paid
however when we typically talk paid
however when we typically talk paid family leave policy which is equally as
family leave policy which is equally as
family leave policy which is equally as complex as taxes and retirement we tend
complex as taxes and retirement we tend
complex as taxes and retirement we tend to overlook the technology solutions let
to overlook the technology solutions let
to overlook the technology solutions let me shed some light on the level of
me shed some light on the level of
me shed some light on the level of comply
comply
comply a working family must face when
a working family must face when
a working family must face when navigating parental leave in the
navigating parental leave in the
navigating parental leave in the workplace this slide shows the
workplace this slide shows the
workplace this slide shows the categories of choices and decisions a
categories of choices and decisions a
categories of choices and decisions a working family must consider when taking
working family must consider when taking
working family must consider when taking leave the number of questions varies
leave the number of questions varies
leave the number of questions varies from 30 to 60 depending on location and
from 30 to 60 depending on location and
from 30 to 60 depending on location and type of leave and this is more than just
type of leave and this is more than just
type of leave and this is more than just having a baby like we’ve been doing for
having a baby like we’ve been doing for
having a baby like we’ve been doing for millennial this is real implications to
millennial this is real implications to
millennial this is real implications to personal finances the company in the
personal finances the company in the
personal finances the company in the workplace considerations for the baby
workplace considerations for the baby
workplace considerations for the baby Korda nari coordinating healthcare
Korda nari coordinating healthcare
Korda nari coordinating healthcare benefits numerous hours are spent at
benefits numerous hours are spent at
benefits numerous hours are spent at work and at home researching all of
work and at home researching all of
work and at home researching all of these individual choices essentially
these individual choices essentially
these individual choices essentially recreating the wheel with every leave
recreating the wheel with every leave
recreating the wheel with every leave this is why I founded leave logic
this is why I founded leave logic
this is why I founded leave logic because we believe technology has a huge
because we believe technology has a huge
because we believe technology has a huge role to play and making family leave
role to play and making family leave
role to play and making family leave normal in the workplace these questions
normal in the workplace these questions
normal in the workplace these questions aren’t just hard to answer like how much
aren’t just hard to answer like how much
aren’t just hard to answer like how much time do I get off
time do I get off
time do I get off how much is paid can I use a short term
how much is paid can I use a short term
how much is paid can I use a short term disability policy how do I get a breast
disability policy how do I get a breast
disability policy how do I get a breast pump reimbursed how do I get access to a
pump reimbursed how do I get access to a
pump reimbursed how do I get access to a lactation room what are the benefits
lactation room what are the benefits
lactation room what are the benefits available to me at my company what are
available to me at my company what are
available to me at my company what are my rights they’re not just hard to
my rights they’re not just hard to
my rights they’re not just hard to answer here but around the world and we
answer here but around the world and we
answer here but around the world and we believe that because there hasn’t been a
believe that because there hasn’t been a
believe that because there hasn’t been a technology solution an easy button to
technology solution an easy button to
technology solution an easy button to push the unintentional message is loud
push the unintentional message is loud
push the unintentional message is loud and clear to workers who are taking
and clear to workers who are taking
and clear to workers who are taking leave you are not normal this is an
leave you are not normal this is an
leave you are not normal this is an exception of burden a nuisance
technology can also help erase the
technology can also help erase the workplace taboo for fathers as well
workplace taboo for fathers as well
workplace taboo for fathers as well a recent study titled feminizing the
a recent study titled feminizing the
a recent study titled feminizing the male leave requestor performed at
male leave requestor performed at
male leave requestor performed at rutgers university found that men who
rutgers university found that men who
rutgers university found that men who requested family leave were more likely
requested family leave were more likely
requested family leave were more likely to be perceived as weak and uncertain
to be perceived as weak and uncertain
to be perceived as weak and uncertain and less likely to be put forth for
and less likely to be put forth for
and less likely to be put forth for promotion and pay raises in addition we
promotion and pay raises in addition we
promotion and pay raises in addition we only see a little more than a third of
only see a little more than a third of
only see a little more than a third of dads taking their full paid family leave
dads taking their full paid family leave
dads taking their full paid family leave benefit a company such as yahoo and ey
benefit a company such as yahoo and ey
benefit a company such as yahoo and ey this is why I’m standing here on the
this is why I’m standing here on the
this is why I’m standing here on the stage today because I have never been
stage today because I have never been
stage today because I have never been more excited about the opportunity to
more excited about the opportunity to
more excited about the opportunity to shine technologies little light on this
shine technologies little light on this
shine technologies little light on this very frequent occurrence in a woman
very frequent occurrence in a woman
very frequent occurrence in a woman child and family’s life and in the very
child and family’s life and in the very
child and family’s life and in the very near future make family leave just as
near future make family leave just as
near future make family leave just as normal and certain as your taxes thank
normal and certain as your taxes thank
normal and certain as your taxes thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment