The study examines the economic implications in Wisconsin of the 1972 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guideline which requires employers to treat maternity leave as a temporary disability. First, the static cost of the maternity leave guideline to employers is estimated for the State of Wisconsin. Second, some examination of the economic response to this cost is attempted. Finally, the relationships between maternity leave and other fringe benefits, wages, and the age distribution of employed females are examined using hospital data. The total cost of the maternity leave guideline for Wisconsin ranges from $4.4 million to $12.8 million annually. Although this cost is not excessive, it may add 3-11 percent to the cost of providing compensated temporary disability plans. Data for hospitals in Wisconsin were examined for realtionships between maternity leave, other fringe benefits, age distribution of employed females, and wages. It was found that the proportion of nurses ages 17 to 39, the main childbearing years, is inversely related to maternity leave. Maternity leave is not a substitute or complement to other fringe benefits. Maternity leave tends to be negatively related to wages. (The document concludes with four appendixes of statistical tables and a three-page bibliography.) (Author)