Krista Pratt Quoted in Inc.com
“How to Create a Maternity Leave Policy”

Krista Pratt was quoted in the April 13, 2010 Inc.com article, "How to Create a Maternity Leave Policy." The article provided a guide to help employers best facilitate maternity leave and return for expecting employees. According to the article, a 2008 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that more than 60 percent of men and women in the labor force have children under the age of 6, thus a good maternity leave policy is a key preparation for when employees might become part of that increasing number. The article also discussed how establishing a solid maternity leave policy can drive employee retention, increase productivity and help protect a company against discrimination lawsuits.

According to the article, before a company begins drafting a maternity leave policy, it should take into consideration the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide no less than 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, among other statutes. Krista commented that while many companies have significantly less than 50 employees, the FMLA still provides a great framework to build such a policy upon. She noted, "You can adapt it to [fit your business needs], because for some, it may not make sense to voluntarily hand over 12 weeks of leave."

The article noted that the FMLA requires that employers reinstate employees returning from their 12-week leave to their same positions. However, Krista commented that if the employee isn't able to return immediately, there are different approaches that can be taken, especially if the employee is valuable to your company. She explained, "Keep it open to say that there is a possibility to extend leave. Don't just have a knee-jerk reaction that says if you don't return you lose your job." Krista also noted that if the employee has post-delivery complications, employers may even be required to extend the leave, in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

According to Krista, companies often make the mistake of creating a policy and failing to train managers to enforce it. She remarked, "If one of the goals here is to make sure you retain these valuable employees, you're going to lose that if you have this slapdash policy that they don't understand." The article stated that after the policy is in place, employers should set up a process of correspondence in advance, so that employees know what to do when the policy actually has to be used. For example, Krista suggested, "He or she should be well-informed about where leave starts and stops and who to notify. It really helps to have a well-trained HR staff."