> The state we lived in only required maternity leave to be implemented at companies having more than 50 employees. Oh, and those two weeks were unpaid.

Likely the only reason for this minimal amount of statutory leave is a federal law:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla

Though it does mandate twelve weeks of unpaid leave, not two, but it only kicks in if you've worked there for a year already.