Paid Maternity Leave: An Overlooked Human Right
The duration of and benefits related to maternity leave continue to be a huge topic of conversation within civil rights discourse. In the US, there is still no federal requirementOpens in a new tab or protection regarding maternity leave, leaving 80% of employees with no guaranteed paid leave and 46% with no guaranteed leave whatsoever.
Not only is this a gross byproduct of a capitalist culture, but it's also an oversight that can cause massive issues for families and businesses, negatively affecting everyone involved.
In this article, we will compare maternity leave benefits from countries across the globe, as well as analyze how beliefs around parental leave need to shift to be more inclusive.
What is maternity leave?
Maternity leave is paid time off for a mother following the birth of a baby. These leave policies were originally created to help new mothers recover from the physical trauma of childbirth and bond with their babies.
Many countries offer paid leave to their employees, which is mandated under federal law, although leave in the United States is a bit more complicated. Because there is currently no statutory minimum in place to guarantee new moms even a few weeks of paid maternity leave, it's important for companies to ensure they're doing everything they can to support our country's mothers.
Maternity leave can be unpaid, equal to an employee's full pay, or paid at a portion of their usual pay rate. Information regarding the specifics of these policies can be accessed through Human Resources or Payroll at most companies and should be given to employees during the onboarding process.
Why is maternity leave so important?
Maternity leave is absolutely not a paid vacation. In fact, the first few months after a baby's born are often the most grueling for new parents, who are now adjusting to new routines, schedules, and responsibilities. Here are some of the main reasons why offering maternity and paternity leave is so crucial:
Helps the mother's body heal physically
Pregnancy and childbirth can be extremely taxing on the human body. Offering paid maternity leave and allowing her to rest is one of the best ways you can help ensure that the birthing parent can adequately recover before returning to the workforce.
Gives parents time to bond with the baby
The first six weeks of a child's life are a crucial developmental time Opens in a new tabfor bonding with their parents, both physically and emotionally. Allowing parents this time to nurture their babies in this way not only strengthens family bonds, it also allows them to properly integrate this new human and new set of experiences into their lives. Generous policies that include months of paid leave are cited as the best for supporting this kind of bonding.
Creates a deeper sense of work-life balance
Knowing that they're supported during such a huge time of transition can really help strengthen an employee's bond with their team, manager, and organization as a whole. Companies that offer paid parental leave as part of their comprehensive benefits packages clearly prioritize the employee experience.
Not only will offering fully paid, generous maternity leave packages help companies attract and retain quality employees, it will also improve company culture by proving to employees that they're holistically cared for.
Weeks of maternity leave around the world
Many countries around the world offer their citizens maternity leave, with the time allowances varying greatly from one country to the next. In order to support an increasingly global workforce in today's digital world of work, companies should familiarize themselves with policies regarding maternity leave in different countries and how those policies impact their citizens.
Which countries have the highest maternity leave?
The following countries are leading the way in the global march toward better family care by providing the best maternity leave to their citizens:
- Bulgaria – 58.6 weeks
- Finland – 51.4 weeks
- Greece – 43 weeks
- United Kingdom – 39 weeks
- Slovakia – 34 weeks
- Croatia – 30 weeks
- Chile – 30 weeks
- Czech Republic – 28 weeks
- Ireland – 26 weeks
- Iceland – 26 weeks
- Hungary – 24 weeks
- New Zealand – 22 weeks
Which countries have the shortest maternity leave?
Unfortunately, these countries don't have adequate maternity leave policies, leaving significant room for improvement when it comes to protections for new, working parents:
- USA – 0 weeks
- Papua New Guinea – 0 weeks
- Tunisia – 4 weeks
- Malawi – 8 weeks
- Sudan – 8 weeks
- Cape Verde – 9 weeks
- Eritrea – 9 weeks
- Guinea-Bissau – 9 weeks
- Mozambique – 9 weeks
- Sao Tome and Principe – 9 weeks
How can we treat parents more equitably at work?
Beyond the fight for fully paid maternity leave, there are many other issues that need to be addressed when it comes to how parents are treated in the workplace. The following are a few easy changes you can focus on to improve your company's culture in this particular area:
Respect pregnant employees' boundaries
While some expecting parents may be excited to share every detail of their journey, others choose to keep things much more private. Everyone should keep in mind that pregnancy is a chapter of life that is deeply impactful and personal.
These parents may be struggling physically or psychologically in ways that other parents are not. Not all employees may want the attention of an in-office baby shower, to be subject to well-meaning but invasive questions, or to have anyone put their hands on their stomach.
Provide flexibility for working parents
A major element of equity for these individuals is allowing them the flexibility they need and deserve when it comes to working hours, remote work, etc.
Not only can this help them juggle their massive responsibilities and priorities at home, it can also help their children feel more supported and closer to their parents.
A simple shift in outlook toward parents can cause a massive positive ripple effect in their personal and professional lives.
Expand who is eligible for parental leave
Traditionally, paid maternity leave has only been granted to mothers who are giving birth. However, it is equally important that parents who are adopting, non-married, or non-birthing parents all have access to parental leave.
Many countries worldwide are changing their policies to support this movement and provide all parents with weeks of fully paid parental leave.
Not only do paid paternity leave and other parental leave policies help create more equity in the workplace, granting leave to the other parent also sends a clear message about the company's values and priorities.
By eliminating discrimination based on marital status, gender, and mode of becoming a parent, a company can show that they care about all employees and their families equally. It also makes a statement that the company believes that the responsibility of childcare falls on both parents, not just the mother.
How should the team handle things when an employee is on parental leave?
Showing respect for an employee who's becoming a parent begins long before the baby is born. Following these guidelines will help new parents feel supported and cared for more holistically:
1) Prepare well for their time away
This may mean scheduling big projects for later in the year, hiring a temporary employee to cover their leave, or training other team members to handle certain tasks in their absence.
Not only will this help the person who's taking leave feel more secure, it will also help the rest of the team feel more prepared. This can help everyone focus on the joy of a new baby coming into the world and allow parents to start their leave on a positive note.
2) Do not contact them about work-related matters during leave
No one enjoys getting calls, emails, or other messages from work when they're off the clock. This can be especially frustrating during a maternity or paternity leave period, when the employee is away from the office due to life-altering personal circumstances.
Reaching out to employees during this time shows a lack of respect for personal boundaries and a clear lack of work-life balance within the organization.
Whether or not their time away is paid or unpaid, the employee is entitled to take their leave without interruption. In order to comply with maternity leave policies, workers should be able to fully disconnect from their professional lives during this time. This helps ensure that they have the energy to give their new child care, love, and attention.
3) Help them integrate back into work
Once an employee has returned from parental leave, it's important to help integrate them back into the team. Be sure to update them on any major highlights from their time away, as well as get them up to speed on current projects and initiatives to help simplify the transition.
You should also celebrate their return to work and make sure they know how excited you are to see them! This will help the employee feel valued and welcome.
FAQs
Which countries offer the longest maternity leave?
It's staggering to consider how different paid maternity leave is in various countriesOpens in a new tab around the world. Coming in at the top of the list, Bulgaria currently provides its residents with the longest maternity leave, which averages 58.6 weeks per new child.
Following in a close second is Greece with 43 weeks and the UK with 39 weeks. Globally, countries that offer generous maternity leave often see better rates of maternal and infant healthOpens in a new tab.
Where does the US rank in maternity leave?
Unfortunately, the US ranks at the bottomOpens in a new tab of the list for paid maternity leave. With no federal protections in place that apply to every employee, many are left without pay or even without jobs at these very integral moments in their lives.
Even the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not fully protect all full-time employees. This can add unnecessary financial, emotional, mental, and physical stress during what should be an immensely joyous period of time.
Conclusion
Maternity leave is too often viewed as a benefit of quality employment, when it should be viewed as a basic human right. In order to be equitable, fully paid parental leave should also be extended to fathers and non-birthing parents of all genders, as well as to adoptive parents.
Allowing parents, especially birthing parents, to rest, recuperate, and connect to the baby benefits each individual and the entire family system. This, in turn, helps these individuals recharge and return to work feeling prepared to resume their professional responsibilities.
About the author
Anna Picagli
As a CYT500 yoga instructor and a certified reiki practitioner, Anna is an advocate for holistic wellness, especially within the workplace.
She’s extremely passionate about the brain-body connection and exploring how mental and physical wellness intersect.
Anna has experienced firsthand how chronic stress, overworking, poor management, and other organizational issues can lead to extreme burnout. Knowing the impact that a toxic work environment can have on a person’s body, psyche, and general sense of well-being, she now works to direct others away from facing the same fate.
As Workhuman’s Content Marketing Senior Specialist, Anna is a regular contributor to Workhuman iQ reports and aims to create resources that company leaders can reference to help improve their culture and empower their employees, creating healthier workplaces for everyone.
In her free time, she’s a voracious reader and a seasoned home chef. You can learn more about Anna’s work on LinkedIn or through the Yoga Alliance.