This leave may be taken by parents of newborn or newly adopted children or by employees who need to take care of seriously ill family members including natural, adopted or stepchildren, spouses or an employee's or spouse's parents. Parental leave is taken by mothers and fathers to care for newborn, newly adopted or foster care children. It is very effective in reducing turnover, training costs and absenteeism. Five states provide temporary disability leave for women for pregnancy or child- birth. Some contracts also contain provisions offering this benefit.
Temporary disability leave often is used in combination with parental leave.
The best parental leave language provides for paid leave, but many contracts offer unpaid leave as well. AFM Local 6 negotiated for 13 weeks paid maternity leave for female employees after the birth of a child. Birth fathers and adoptive parents receive one week paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child. The bene- fit is also available for adoption. Many new parents want to work part-time after children are born or adopted.