Paid leave around the world

jack12trip · September 2014

While the actual subject frustrates me because as a country, the U.S. should be doing MUCH better, I have to say, it's really nice to be on a thread today of members sharing their different experiences and thoughts on such an important topic.

No repeat questions about common symptoms, no questions about sex (or as some wrongly call it, gender) and best of all, no insult hurling trolls!

Aeml1985 · September 2014

Smonet said:
I'd be curious to know what working moms on this board get? If I knew how to make a poll I would

Im in Alberta, canada and I will get $1900/month (that's the MAX regardless of how much you earn) for 12 months. We pay into employment insurance (mandatory) and that's where that $$. For a lot of people that much of a pay cut (it's 1/3 of my earnings) makes it unrealistic to take the entire year off. I'm not surprised the states have such shitty maternity leave, ya'll have to pay for healthcare or pay insane amounts for insurance.

BabySuleman · September 2014

I'm a teacher in Canada. We don't get paid by the school board, but we can go on unemployment insurance for one year. I'm not sure exactly how much we get...but I know it's about a quarter of out normal pay. We have to pay out of pocket to keep our health benefits and we need to continue contributing to our pension.

CrazieMeh · September 2014

I get the same as Aeml (Albertan here). Although it's considered a paycut of my regular salary, it's better than nothing. And I'm so glad that my company's short term disability allows me to go on it now since I already used up my sick days due to my severe morning sickness.

Enigma87 · September 2014

At my job we get 6 weeks paid (at 66% of my average pay) and another 6 weeks unpaid. I think I will use some vacation and sick time on top of my 6 weeks (so a total of 8 maybe) because I can't afford the unpaid leave.

HallRents · September 2014

I'm also an Albertan and feeling grateful even if I'll only get 1/3 of my normal monthly salary. Luckily my partner and I can afford the entire year off for me. I'm also thankful that once labour and delivery comes, we won't have to stress the cost as well. I can't even begin to imagine a horrendous medical bill after giving birth. I have a girlfriend who is a Canadian and she is having her second child in Texas and is totally stressed about the cost.

Unknown · September 2014

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cesquer · September 2014

I am effing moving to Canada. This blows.

HallRents · September 2014

wonknessmonster said:
I am also in Canada and my employer tops up my employment insurance to 93% of my wage for the first 12 weeks, then up to 55% to week 35. After that, I am paid only out of EI which is 413 bucks a week until 1 year.

Also, it is the law in my province for an employer to grant paternal leave to EITHER partner. Partners can choose to split the leave. My employer will pay the non-childbearing spouse the 93% top-up for 3 months. If we wanted to, I could go back to work after 2 months and my husband could do the next ten months and our jobs are safe by law. He would be unpaid because his union is nowhere near as strong as mine is.

See, I don't mind paying taxes when I actually get shit back for it.

I normally try not to talk about how VERY VERY lucky I am in this regard on the bump. I feel like it just might annoy the American ladies here. But in all honesty if you all ever decided to take to the streets on this issue I WILL fly down there and march for improved rights on maternity leave for you. I do not believe we are suffering economically in any way due to this policy.

In Quebec leave is 2 years.

This. See you on the streets.

Aeml1985 · September 2014

I think it's misleading to not include the fact that some of us pay 40% income tax.....Yes we have a lot of social programs as Canadians but we pay a big (in my opinion) price for them

Aeml1985 · September 2014

@wonknessmonster‌ my last comment wasn't directed at you, I hadn't even read your post when I wrote that, I'm sorry if you found it offensive. My comment was in response to other posters saying they want to come to Canada, and not everyone knows how taxes and social programs work in other countries.

HallRents · September 2014

wonknessmonster said:
@Aeml1985‌ oh sorry I didn't realize that. Yes I agree. There are also real career disadvantages for a woman that have to be managed in taking 12 months. That's why I'm also passionate about paid leave for the non-childbearing partner. I am the breadwinner in my family so it would make way more sense for DH to do the majority of the leave...if only he would be paid for it. Still I'm grateful that his work would have to protect his job. Sometimes I think men need to push for justice as well, dammit.

Look at us, all Canadian and apologizing to each other when we basically agree

The apologizing was the first thing I noticed and it made me chuckle

Skrittens · September 2014

I get 2 weeks before the due date (or shorter or longer depending if I am early or late. I then get 6 weeks after the birth (8 for c-section or twins). I also get an additional 3 or 4 weeks of parental leave to take any time in any manner (daily, weekly, etc) the 12 months following the birth. All full paid. My firm also provides job protection for maternity leave for 26 weeks - even if you don't qualify for FMLA (which I won't because I just returned from a medical leave). But it sucks...maternity leave reduces your experience time - so I will still be held to the same continuing ed and revenue goals as someone who did not go on maternity leave (unless I am out longer than 12 weeks consecutively).

rm2013 · September 2014

@Aeml1985‌ - just FYI I pay 28% taxes as American and have to pay out the ass for insurance and get shitty maternity benefits. That extra 12% is nothing when you weigh it against just the cost if those two benefits.

ETA - Well, not "nothing", but you get what I mean. It's not like our taxes are that low to compensate for all the services we don't get.

Aeml1985 · September 2014

@rm2013‌ that's so frustrating!

Biscotto · September 2014

In Switzerland we get 4 months paid. I'll be taking 6 months, so I'll have two months unpaid.

Vacation in Switzerland is a mandatory 5 weeks. I have 13 weeks (I'm a teacher).

meowkitten · September 2014

rm2013 said:
@Aeml1985‌ - just FYI I pay 28% taxes as American and have to pay out the ass for insurance and get shitty maternity benefits. That extra 12% is nothing when you weigh it against just the cost if those two benefits.

ETA - Well, not "nothing", but you get what I mean. It's not like our taxes are that low to compensate for all the services we don't get.

This. My taxes are close to 30% of my income, and my health insurance is all paid on top of that. Ugh.

I am lucky in that DH is self-employed and works from home, so he will be staying home with the baby full-time and working around my schedule. The downside is that I will be lucky if I end up with a week of PTO and I get no paid maternity leave. I am our primary income, so I will be going back as soon as I have the all clear to go back. Luckily I teach so the school year is over at the end of May and I will have ten weeks off for the summer to stay home.

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