Final answer:
Under the Employment Act in the United States, employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for family reasons, including childbirth. This is protected by federal laws such as the FA. The U.S. does not mandate paid maternity leave, unlike many other countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of maternity leave under the Employment Act, employees are commonly entitled to a certain duration of leave to take care of family matters, which often includes the birth of a child. In many countries, maternity leave policies vary, providing different lengths of leave and compensations for new mothers. For instance, in some industrial nations, by 1950, provisions had been established to grant pregnant employees time off with some financial compensation.
In the United States, the federal legislation allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for family reasons, such as childbirth and family illness. This is under the umbrella of protection provided by laws such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FA). However, it's noteworthy that the U.S. stands unique among 41 OECD countries as it does not mandate paid leave for new parents.