On the first functioning day of March, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun made a significant shift to help working families by issuing a new administrative attempt that enhances paid parental leave rewards for state workers. This initiative aims to create a more family-friendly work environment in Indiana.
While at least six other states — Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah — offer paid parental leave for their employees, Braun’s executive order stands out in two significant ways. First, it is quite generous: Female state employees can now take a minimum of six weeks of leave after giving birth, with eight weeks available for those who have a C-section. Additionally, all full-time employees, regardless of their tenure, are entitled to 150 hours of parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
This policy represents a remarkable commitment to making parental leave accessible to all state employees. Braun believes that such pro-family policies are essential, as he stated during the signing of the executive order:” It’s important for employers to accommodate the needs of new parents. Time bonding with a new child is irreplaceable for a family”. By prioritizing the needs of families, Indiana is paving the way for a more supportive and pro-family state.
Another aspect that makes Indiana’s executive order unique is that it specifies that paid parental leave “also applies to employees who experience the tragedy of a fetal death after twenty ( 20 ) weeks gestation”. This provision resonates with me personally because my son Lucas was stillborn in 2018. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) defines stillbirth as the death of a fetus in the uterus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
I spent nearly a week in the ICU, and while my physical recovery took many more weeks, the emotional healing took even longer. As someone who was self-employed, I didn’t have issues taking time off for recovery, but being self-employed also meant no work and no pay. The financial strain, in addition to the physical and emotional challenges, was overwhelming.
Stillbirths occur more frequently in the U. S. than many people realize. According to the CDC, stillbirths affect approximately 1 in 175 births, resulting in around 21, 000 stillborn babies annually in the United States. The emotional toll on families is profound. Since stillbirths typically happen late in pregnancy, they can be especially devastating. By this stage, most parents have already shared the news with family and friends, celebrated baby showers, heard their babies ‘ heartbeats, chosen baby names, and prepared nurseries. The heartbreak of losing the baby they had eagerly anticipated is indescribable.
As a resident of Colorado, where the Democrat Party holds significant political power, I have been an advocate for public policies that recognize the needs of families who have experienced stillbirths. Despite the Democrat Party’s general support for paid family leave, my efforts to address the unique needs of these families have faced challenges. The fear of inadvertently acknowledging the personhood of the unborn and potentially offending the party’s pro-abortion faction has hindered progress on this crucial issue.
Therefore, I applaud Gov. Braun for recognizing that not every pregnancy has a happy ending and women who experienced stillbirths need time to recovery physically and emotionally, as he said in his remarks when signing the EO:” Losing a baby unexpectedly is such a difficult thing to endure — and I want to make sure state employees facing that tragedy have time to mourn and recover”. Thus, Braun’s EO ensures that “mothers who lose their baby after 20 weeks in the womb will also be eligible for this 6 or 8 week recovery leave, depending on their circumstances”.
Braun’s executive order ( EO ) has been well-received. Mike Fichter, president of Indiana Right to Life, stated that it “affirms that the Hoosier culture prioritizes families, parents, and children. These enhanced benefits for state employees ]are ] a significant step in Indiana being an example in compassionate support for pregnant mothers and their babies, including those suffering the loss of a baby’s life before birth”. He encouraged all Indiana employers to adopt similar policies.
The left often accuses the pro-life movement of opposing abortion without addressing the well-being and needs of mothers. This criticism is neither true nor fair. Braun’s EO specifically addresses one of the Democrats ‘ key public policy issues — offering paid family leave. It illustrates how pro-life policies support women and children at the same time by providing mothers with paid time to recover after childbirth and bond with their newborns. The inclusion of paid leave for women who experience stillbirths illustrates a commitment to both the sanctity of life for the unborn and the mother’s healing process, making this EO a significant pro-life and pro-women policy.
As stillbirths affect thousands of families, I hope this EO serves as a national model and inspires other public and private employers to enhance family support and foster a pro-life culture nationwide.
