Best states for maternity leave

All eyes have been on the American Supreme Court in the past few weeks, as the country watches the appointment process for a judge who could tip the balances into overturning Roe v. Wade. Motherhood is once again up for debate: What responsibilities does a woman have to her potential future child?

Yet motherhood only begins with the decision to give birth. It extends through a nine-month pregnancy, the first couple of years of intense care, and further years after that. The early periods of a child's life are particularly arduous as new parents must take care of food, sleep, changing diapers, and so many other basic needs of their children.

Raising a child is a significant responsibility for all parents, regardless of who those parents are, but it can be particularly challenging for parents in the workforce. Some parents can rely on supportive policies, including paid maternity leave, flexible sick days, and unemployment insurance modernization. Other parents are largely on their own, forced to take time out of the jobs upon which they rely for survival in order to take care of their children. America as a whole has been criticized for poor protections for working mothers, compared to other similarly developed countries.

In order to evaluate the best places in the country to be a working parent, Stacker turned to the National Partnership for Women and Families' "Raising Expectations" report. National Partnership performed a comprehensive analysis of state policies supporting working parents before and after the arrival of a new child. Each state was scored and given a grade from A to F; the score is based on protections that state provides for private sector and public employees (with private sector protections weighted more heavily).

This report specifically compares each states' policies to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, which protects employees in taking unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons, including the birth of a child and caring for spouses, children, or parents with serious health conditions. In this study, National Partnership found that 25 of 50 states have done "little or nothing" to supplement the baseline protections set out in FMLA. Only six states earned a grade of "A" or "A-," and not a single state earns a grade of "A+."

Read on to find out how your state scores—if you have a child or an emerging health issue, how are you protected?

ALSO: Best and worst states for working dads

IIP Photo Archive // Flickr

1 / 51

Alabama: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected parental leave
—State workers: Job-protected parental leave, flexible use of sick time

Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce // Flickr

2 / 51

Idaho: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected parental leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Ken L./ Wikimedia Commons

3 / 51

Michigan: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Ken L. // Flickr

4 / 51

Mississippi: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected parental leave, paid sick days
—State workers: Job-protected family leave, job-protected pregnancy and parental leave, job-protected adoption leave, flexible use of sick time

ErgoSum88 // Wikicommons

5 / 51

Nebraska: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Paid disability/maternity leave, paid family leave, paid parental leave

Wikicommons

6 / 51

North Dakota: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid family and medical leave (to take effect Jan. 1, 2019 with benefits payable beginning on Jan. 1, 2020), job-protected family leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, paid sick days, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid family and medical leave, job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected parental leave, job-protected pregnancy disability leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Jon Platek // Wikicommons

7 / 51

South Dakota: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time

Garrett // Wikimedia Commons

8 / 51

Utah: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected parental leave, job-protpected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Pixabay

9 / 51

Wyoming: F

Points awarded: 0

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

IIP Photo Archive // Flickr

10 / 51

Nevada: D-

Points awarded: 5

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, paid sick days, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Good Free Photos

11 / 51

New Mexico: D-

Points awarded: 5

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time

Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau // Wikimedia Commons

12 / 51

Oklahoma: D-

Points awarded: 5

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid job-protected family leave and paid medical leave, job-protected family leave, paid sick days, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid job-protected family leave and paid medical leave, job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Pixabay

13 / 51

South Carolina : D-

Points awarded: 5

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Sixflashphoto // Wikicommons

14 / 51

Tennessee : D-

Points awarded: 5

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

tableatny // Flickr

15 / 51

Georgia: D

Points awarded: 10

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time

Jasssmit // Wikimedia Commons

16 / 51

Indiana: D

Points awarded: 10

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

The Pug Father // Flickr

17 / 51

Kentucky: D

Points awarded: 10

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Paid parental leave, paid medical leave, flexible use of sick time

Sam valadi // Flickr

18 / 51

Missouri: D

Points awarded: 10

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Unemployment insurance modernization

MaxPIxel

19 / 51

Delaware: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected pregnancy disability leave
—State workers: Job-protected pregnancy disability leave, job-protected parental leave, flexible use of sick time

JoshWest.com // Flickr

20 / 51

Iowa: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau // Flickr

21 / 51

Louisiana: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Pxhere

22 / 51

New Hampshire: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Jordan // Flickr

23 / 51

Pennsylvania: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid family and medical leave, job-protected family leave, paid sick days (to take effect Oct. 29, 2018)
—State workers: Paid family and medical leave, job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time

IIP Photo Archive // Flickr

24 / 51

Texas: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected leave, flexible use of sick time

Pixabay

25 / 51

West Virginia: D+

Points awarded: 15

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid job-protected family leave and paid medical leave, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid job-protected family leave, job-protected parental leave, job-protected pregnancy leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

UltraView Admin // Flickr

26 / 51

Florida: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected parental leave, paid sick days, flexible use of sick time
—State workers: Paid parental leave (to take effect Oct. 1, 2018), flexible use of sick time

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

27 / 51

Kansas: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid, job-protected family and medical leave (to take effect Jan. 1, 2019, with benefits payable beginning on Jan. 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021), job-protected parental leave, paid six days
—State workers: Paid job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected parental leave, job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time

Pixabay

28 / 51

Montana: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Wikicommons

29 / 51

North Carolina: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected parental and pregnancy disability leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected parental and pregnancy disability leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Robbt // Flickr

30 / 51

Ohio: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Jim // Wikimedia Commons

31 / 51

Virginia: C-

Points awarded: 20

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Paid parental leave, flexible use of sick time

Paxson Woelber // Flickr

32 / 51

Alaska: C

Points awarded: 25

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time

Bruce W. Stracener // Wikimedia Commons

33 / 51

Arkansas: C

Points awarded: 25

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability
—State workers: Job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability

Larry Johnson // Flickr

34 / 51

Colorado: C

Points awarded: 25

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Alan Stark // Flickr

35 / 51

Arizona: C

Points awarded: 30

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time

AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons

36 / 51

Minnesota: C+

Points awarded: 35

Tony Webster // Flickr

37 / 51

Illinois: C+

Points awarded: 40

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid parental leave, job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

GoodFreePhotos

38 / 51

Maryland: C+

Points awarded: 40

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Paid parental leave, flexible use of sick time

Ken L. // Flickr

39 / 51

Maine: B-

Points awarded: 55

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid medical leave, job-protected family leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid medical leave, job-protected family leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Pixabay

40 / 51

Wisconsin: B-

Points awarded: 55

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Bob P. B. // Flickr

41 / 51

Vermont: B

Points awarded: 60

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Flexible use of sick time
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Anthony Quintano // Flickr

42 / 51

Hawaii: B

Points awarded: 75

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Job-protected family leave, flexible use of sick time

M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons

43 / 51

Oregon: B+

Points awarded: 85

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid family and medical Leave (to take effect July 1, 2019, with benefits payable beginning on July 1, 2020), job-protected family and medical leave, paid sick days, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid job-protected family leave, job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Good Free Photos

44 / 51

Connecticut: B+

Points awarded: 90

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid parental leave (to take effect April 1, 2019), flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

John St John // Flickr

45 / 51

New York: A-

Points awarded: 105

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, paid sick days, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Joe Parks // Wikimedia Commons

46 / 51

California: A-

Points awarded: 110

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Job-protected family leave, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

David Merrett // Wikicommons

47 / 51

New Jersey: A-

Points awarded: 115

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid family and medical leave, job-protected family leave, job-protected parental leave, job-protected medical leave for pregnancy disability, paid sick days, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Paid family and medical leave, job-protected family, parental, and pregnancy disability leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Reading Tom // Flickr

48 / 51

Rhode Island: A-

Points awarded: 125

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-paid maternity leave, flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Pixabay

49 / 51

Washington: A-

Points awarded: 135

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Paid sick days, unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time, unemployment insurance modernization

Sebastian Bass // Flickr

50 / 51

District of Columbia: A

Points awarded: 155

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: Unemployment insurance modernization
—State workers: Job-protected family and medical leave, unemployment insurance modernization

Ryan Harvey // Flickr

51 / 51

Massachusetts: A

Points awarded: 160

Additional protections provided beyond the FMLA:
—Private sector workers: None
—State workers: Flexible use of sick time

Best states for maternity leave

Alabama: F

Idaho: F

Michigan: F

Mississippi: F

Nebraska: F

North Dakota: F

South Dakota: F

Utah: F

Wyoming: F

Nevada: D-

New Mexico: D-

Oklahoma: D-

South Carolina : D-

Tennessee : D-

Georgia: D

Indiana: D

Kentucky: D

Missouri: D

Delaware: D+

Iowa: D+

Louisiana: D+

New Hampshire: D+

Pennsylvania: D+

Texas: D+

West Virginia: D+

Florida: C-

Kansas: C-

Montana: C-

North Carolina: C-

Ohio: C-

Virginia: C-

Alaska: C

Arkansas: C

Colorado: C

Arizona: C

Minnesota: C+

Illinois: C+

Maryland: C+

Maine: B-

Wisconsin: B-

Vermont: B

Hawaii: B

Oregon: B+

Connecticut: B+

New York: A-

California: A-

New Jersey: A-

Rhode Island: A-

Washington: A-

District of Columbia: A

Massachusetts: A

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