The U.S. has some of the shortest maternity and paternity policies for parents in the world. What has happened to family values?
A friend of mine lives in Australia. She told me that they provide a year for maternity. Of course, it is not all paid.
In the Czech Republic, parental leave can last up to three years. Within the first six months of their maternity leave, women have to decide which type of parental allowance they want to draw. Parents are free to choose between a two-year parental leave with a monthly contribution of 11,400 crowns, a three-year parental leave with a monthly contribution of 7,600 crowns or a four-year leave with a monthly contribution of 7,600 which is reduced to 3,800 when the child reaches 21 months of age. In short, the longer time they want to spend at home with their child the less money they get.
Germany has a typical leave time between 14 and 18 weeks paid. The EU Commission would like to ensure that women are better able to combine work and family life. To that end, self-employed women were given paid maternity leave for the first time in 2008.
State-sponsored parental leave (‘föräldraledighet’) is arguably more generous in Sweden than anywhere else. Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days paid leave per child, with both mothers and fathers entitled and encouraged to share the leave. The leave can be taken at any time until the child reaches the age of seven.
Increasingly, duel-income households are a necessity to live in this country. Have we shifted our focus from successful family relationships to business relationships, and at what price? Who is raising our children and the leaders of tomorrow?
- Image via Wikipedia
Related articles
- Getting your job back after maternity leave: don’t bank on it (smh.com.au)
- What will the new paternity rules mean for parents? (confused.com)
- What are the current maternity and paternity rights? (career-advice.monster.co.uk)
We made the decision to stay home longer with our children even though it was unpaid. It was tough financially, but we made it work.
You were lucky. I am glad to hear it worked for your family.
I have been teaching for 5 years. I have been on the other side of this spectrum, and reassuring mothers who are returning to work, and now that the shoe will be on the other foot for me, I didn’t realize how hard it’s going to be! =(
It is hard. No Doubt. They are just so little and you love them so much.
Heather, it’s nice to hear that some families can make that work. Unfortunately, so very many can’t. It’s a real tragedy.
@Abbe … you said it!
“What has happened to family values?” – The libs and Democrats have directed overseen to their slowly decay for decades.
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