Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM
Introduction: Increasing attention has been focused on parental leave, but little is known about early leave and parental experiences for male and female attending physicians. Our goal was to describe and quantify the parental leave experiences of a nationally representative sample of emergency phys...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kh2b56f |
| _version_ | 1811242286864924672 |
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| author | Casey Z. MacVane Megan L. Fix Tania D. Strout Kate D. Zimmerman Rebecca B. Bloch Christine L. Hein |
| author_facet | Casey Z. MacVane Megan L. Fix Tania D. Strout Kate D. Zimmerman Rebecca B. Bloch Christine L. Hein |
| author_sort | Casey Z. MacVane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Increasing attention has been focused on parental leave, but little is known about early leave and parental experiences for male and female attending physicians. Our goal was to describe and quantify the parental leave experiences of a nationally representative sample of emergency physicians (EP). Methods: We conducted a web-based survey, distributed via emergency medicine professional organizations, discussion boards, and listservs, to address study objectives. Results: We analyzed data from 464 respondents; 56% were women. Most experienced childbirth while employed as an EP. Fifty-three percent of women and 60% of men reported working in a setting with a formal maternity leave policy; however, 36% of women and 18% of men reported dissatisfaction with these policies. Most reported that other group members cover maternity-related shift vacancies; a minority reported that pregnant partners work extra shifts prior to leave. Leave duration and compensation varied widely, ranging from no compensated leave (18%) to 12 or more weeks at 100% salary (7%). Supportive attitudes were reported during pregnancy (53%) and, to a lesser degree (43%), during leave. Policy improvement suggestions included the development of clear, formal policies; improving leave duration and compensation; adding paternity and adoption leave; providing support for physicians working extra to cover colleagues’ leave; and addressing breastfeeding issues. Conclusion: In this national sample of EPs, maternity leave policies varied widely. The duration and compensation during leave also had significant variation. Participants suggested formalizing policies, increasing leave duration and compensation, adding paternity leave, and changing the coverage for vacancies to relieve burden on physician colleagues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:49:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ab9a42400df433880fd9cdbdbed9403 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:49:28Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ab9a42400df433880fd9cdbdbed94032022-12-22T03:30:34ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-90182017-07-0118510.5811/westjem.2017.6.33843wjem-18-800Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EMCasey Z. MacVane0Megan L. Fix1Tania D. Strout2Kate D. Zimmerman3Rebecca B. Bloch4Christine L. Hein5Maine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland, MaineUniversity of Utah Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Salt Lake City, UtahMaine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland, MaineMaine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland, MaineMaine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland, MaineMaine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland, MaineIntroduction: Increasing attention has been focused on parental leave, but little is known about early leave and parental experiences for male and female attending physicians. Our goal was to describe and quantify the parental leave experiences of a nationally representative sample of emergency physicians (EP). Methods: We conducted a web-based survey, distributed via emergency medicine professional organizations, discussion boards, and listservs, to address study objectives. Results: We analyzed data from 464 respondents; 56% were women. Most experienced childbirth while employed as an EP. Fifty-three percent of women and 60% of men reported working in a setting with a formal maternity leave policy; however, 36% of women and 18% of men reported dissatisfaction with these policies. Most reported that other group members cover maternity-related shift vacancies; a minority reported that pregnant partners work extra shifts prior to leave. Leave duration and compensation varied widely, ranging from no compensated leave (18%) to 12 or more weeks at 100% salary (7%). Supportive attitudes were reported during pregnancy (53%) and, to a lesser degree (43%), during leave. Policy improvement suggestions included the development of clear, formal policies; improving leave duration and compensation; adding paternity and adoption leave; providing support for physicians working extra to cover colleagues’ leave; and addressing breastfeeding issues. Conclusion: In this national sample of EPs, maternity leave policies varied widely. The duration and compensation during leave also had significant variation. Participants suggested formalizing policies, increasing leave duration and compensation, adding paternity leave, and changing the coverage for vacancies to relieve burden on physician colleagues.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kh2b56f |
| spellingShingle | Casey Z. MacVane Megan L. Fix Tania D. Strout Kate D. Zimmerman Rebecca B. Bloch Christine L. Hein Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM |
| title_full | Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM |
| title_fullStr | Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM |
| title_full_unstemmed | Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM |
| title_short | Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM |
| title_sort | congratulations you re pregnant now about your shifts the state of maternity leave attitudes and culture in em |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kh2b56f |
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