Facebook’s chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg posted a Mother’s Day Facebook post on Sunday calling for federal and corporate policies to change and benefit from working parents. Some of the changes she urged politicians and CEOs to implement included minimum wage increases, mandated paid parental leave and increasing the availability of affordable childcare.
Sandberg, who is an influential voice in corporate America and author of several successful books, said the US government and employers must do more to help out its citizens including single mothers, who were struggling to provide for their children.
“Over 40% of mothers are the primary breadwinners for their families – and in many, the only breadwinner. We all have a responsibility to help mothers as well as fathers balance their responsibilities at work and home,” Sandberg explained.
Sandberg urged other companies to do more for their employees.
Sandberg added, “Companies can do a lot to lead the charge, and I’m proud of the steps Facebook has taken. But not everyone has the opportunity to work for a company that supports working parents. It’s time for our public policies to catch up with what our families deserve and our values demand.”
Sandberg continued by explaining that companies and the United States government needs to implement paid leave. She points out that the United States is one of the only developed countries in the world that does not guarantee paid family leave and is the only developed country in the world without paid maternity.
“That means many moms are forced to return to work right after giving birth to keep their jobs,” Sandberg said on Facebook. “We shouldn’t have to risk losing a job or being able to meet the basic needs of our families to do that.”
Sandberg continued by arguing that on this Mother’s Day companies and a government should focus on creating affordable healthcare. “How are parents supposed to work if they don’t have a safe and affordable place to leave their kids?”