Parents are Devious Liars: Wall Street Journal

I suppose it's good news that the paid-parental-leave movement has gathered enough momentum that the powerful pro-business folks on the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal now view paid leave as a threat to the fabric of society:

New York legislators want to require employers to provide 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, an adoption, or for care of an ill spouse, parent, in-law or sibling. Maine wants its law to cover "domestic partners." A Georgia proposal would offer paid leave for school conferences, medical checkups and immunizations. You can see where this new job entitlement is headed.

The horror! Parenting taking a day off to take their child to the doctor! Or care for a sick parent! What wastrels! You really have to read the whole thing (which may not be available without a subscription) to get a feel, but suffice it to say that one of the most prominent arguments offered up is that there is a significant problem with people faking illnesses to take advantage of the leave.

I find it staggeringly hard to believe that the system is fraught with abuse. More likely that big business sees paid leave as a trend that is here to stay. Good news for us. Bad news for them.