Final answer:
The length of leave following stillbirths and miscarriages may exceed 17 weeks, with Family and Medical Leave Act providing up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for qualifying family events, including childbirth. Additional leave can depend on state laws or employer policies. Historical efforts for maternity leave protection in the U.S. took years before being federally recognized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duration of leave for stillbirths and miscarriages may be extended beyond 17 weeks, giving employees additional time to recover after such an event. In the United States, under the Family and Medical Leave Act, protection is offered to employees which allows them to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for family reasons, including the birth of a child or family illness. However, specific regulations regarding leave for stillbirths or miscarriages can vary by state or according to an employer's policies, and in some cases, additional leave may be granted beyond the standard allowance.
In a historical context, it's worth noting that by 1950, many industrial nations provided time off and financial compensation for pregnant employees, but in the U.S., it wasn't until the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 that similar protections began to be put in place on a federal level. The topic also touches on healthcare issues surrounding the viability of the fetus and the challenges of pre-term birth outcomes.