Paternity leave vs. maternity leave

Attorney Christina Coleman explains the differences between maternity leave and paternity leave at work, primarily how maternity has an element of disability built in to it
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Paternity leave vs. maternity leave

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First of all, Paternity Leave is not the same thing as Maternity Leave. Maternity Leave has, built into it, an element of disability. Usually, the right to take maternity leave are based on disability laws and disability policies that simply don't apply to a father who has not given birth. However, that doesn't mean the father is without rights. The father can take protected leave under FMLA or some other protected legislation, but as a practical matter, this type of leave is unpaid. Very few households can suffer the financial burden of both parents not working and receiving a paycheck. For this reason, most fathers, although they can take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave, they are not going to do that. They are going to opt to take some vacation time that they've accrued, so they can still receive a paycheck while enjoying time at home with their new child.

Attorney Christina Coleman explains the differences between maternity leave and paternity leave at work, primarily how maternity has an element of disability built in to it

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Christina Coleman

Attorney & Mother of a Diabetic

Christina M. Coleman, a California native, was admitted to practice law in 1997. As in-house Corporate Counsel for a family of Internet/Telecommunications Companies, she oversaw all litigation and some corporate matters. In 2000, Ms. Coleman's outstanding track record caused her to join a plaintiff's litigation firm focusing on catastrophic injury (financial and physical) cases. While at this firm, Ms. Coleman met Lisa L. Maki where they co-counseled in a few high-profile cases. As a result, they became fast friends in their pursuit of justice for their clients.

Ms. Coleman is a highly skilled litigator and negotiator who has been the key to obtaining multi-million dollar jury trials and settlements, including a 7.2 million dollar jury verdict for an individual and company in Orange County, California. In March 2006, Ms. Coleman and Ms. Maki joined forces and Ms. Coleman is the firm's senior litigator and negotiator. In this role, she continues to represent plaintiffs in their struggle for justice and fairness in the workplace and in the corporate arena.

Ms. Coleman has lectured for the Consumer Attorneys of California, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, and has been published in the Advocate. She has also served on the editorial board for an employment related treatise for James Publishing. Ms. Coleman was Consumer Attorneys of California’s finalist nominee for Consumer Attorney of the Year in 2008, and finalist nominee for Streetfighter of the Year in 2010. 

A member of the California Bar, Ms. Coleman graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (BA 1993) and University of San Diego School of Law (JD. 1997). Ms. Coleman currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young daughters, and proudly participates in many legal and bar organizations

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