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FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- A report measuring states on workplace friendliness toward families was released Friday, and Indiana earned a D-. But, the Hoosier State is not alone in this low ranking.
Indiana is one of 25 states in the country to earn a D or F rating from the most recent National Partnership for Women & Families’ Expecting Better report, which analyzes state laws affecting new and expecting parents.
This isn’t the first time Indiana has received a low score; it also earned a D- in 2014.
According to Indiana Institute for Working Families policy analyst Erin Macey, Indiana narrowly avoided an “F” rating for its workplace protections favoring nursing mothers.
“State employees are provided a place to express breast milk and storage for breast milk,” said Macey, “while private employees are offered a place to breastfeed other than a toilet stall.”
Macey notes that Indiana and other low-ranking states can make strides in their grade by passing laws focusing on paid family and medical leave.
“Several states have passed policies like these, or ones that have passed temporary disability insurance, which would cover a new mother for the six-week recovery period she would have after pregnancy,” she said.
Macey says some mothers in Indiana will go back to work two weeks after giving birth, and says the D- grade could serve as a call to action to change that.
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