Parents turn to crowdfunding to enable maternity leave
A recent BuzzFeed search for “maternity leave” on crowdfunding site, GoFundMe, returned more than 1,200 results as new parents whose employers do not provide paid family leave turn to family and friends. The report states that just 12% of American workers are entitled to maternity or paternity leave, and many of the remaining 88% are turning to crowdfunding to enable them to spend time with their newborns.

In a sense, new parents Shawn and Laura Lechette got $1,500 for nothing. In another, it was for asking.



The couple — whose employers, like most, don't provide paid family leave — raised the sum from friends and family, who donated via GoFundMe, the country's largest crowdfunding site for personal expenses. A search for "maternity leave" on the site yielded more than 1,200 results.

Just 12% of Americans, excluding those who work for the government, have access to paid time to spend with their newborns. Some of that 88% are now turning to crowd-funding to pay for the benefit.



"We definitely looked into other sources of funds for maternity leave, but none were available to us," said Mr. Lechette, 31, who works in retail.

