To commemorate Mother’s Day, John Oliver shone some light on the United States draconian policy on maternity leave on Sunday’s edition of “Last Week: Tonight.”
Federal law allows workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave with various restrictions, causing many women to use vacation and sick days to create a makeshift maternity leave at the risk of losing their jobs.
United States shares this distinction with one other country — Papua New Guinea, according to the UN.
“This is not how its supposed to work,” Oliver said. “Mothers shouldn’t have to stitch together time to recover from childbirth the same way that we plan a four-day weekend in Atlantic City.”
The host shifted to paternity leave, pointing out how the Mets’ Daniel Murphy faced a wave of ridicule after taking some time to care for his newborn.
One spots radio jock: “I would’ve said C-section before the season starts, I need to be at opening day.”
Oliver’s audience erupted.
“Good luck selling that to your wife!” he said. “Listen babe, I know I play 162 games in a season but I can’t miss a single one, so, let’s cut that thing out of your belly so I can wear my baggy pajamas and swing a cone of wood to make a ball go far.”
Watch the clip:
