Canada gives women a year of maternity leave with pay and dads can take off almost as long? Why not us?

Answer 1

The reason we cannot take the length of maternity leave, and family leave that others in Canada, and in much of Europe, enjoy is because we place a greater emphasis on our material betterment than on the strength and unity of the family. As much as our leaders, especially those in the right wing, extol the family and traditional values, their promotion of corporate culture and global economic hegemony run counter to the interests of the family. A country like the United States simply cannot be as successful in the global market, unless we have a work force that is cheaply compensated in terms of leave benefits and time.

You wonder why tragedies like Columbine High School happen with greater frequency over here than in Europe or Canada. You reap what you sow. If you place emphasis on the accumulation of things, you will have a society that is wealthy monetarily, but you will have a population of youngsters who are bereft of affection and moral conviction. This is not purely an observation of mine taken in my abstract assessment of the news and literature. I have encountered many Europeans and some of my relatives live in Europe. From personal experience I can tell you that the differences are almost palpable.

Answer 2

It's because of money. American company's tend to be greedy and don't like to give employees time off. In most European countries they get even longer maternity leave. I guess America doesn't realize that in the end more people would stay with their jobs and be loyal employees if they were allowed more time off when they start a family, or when they are sick, ready for vacation, etc. At almost every job I've ever had it was like pulling teeth to get a day off, and at my last job the boss did not let anyone take vacation at all, even after having worked a year and earning it. Everyone there would pretty much be forced to "sell" their vacation at the end of the year, except of course the boss. And anytime someone got pregnant she would make them so miserable at work they'd want to quit, she did it to me but I managed to keep working there because I needed my health insurance. I called around to find out what kinds of protection I had, but the department of labor and other places said that she could basically treat me anyway she wanted, she just couldn't out and out fire me for getting pregnant. That's the problem, the laws need to change to be more family friendly. I'm not saying people should be given free rein to do what they want and take unlimited time off, but things should be more reasonable.

Answer 3

Because they pay almost 50% of their taxes to the government as a nation in order to provide many, many social programs to pay for things - such as what you've mentioned.

So, the question really is - do we in the U.S. keep a little more of our money and (try to) provide for ourselves... or pay more money to the government in order to provide us certain benefits?

Just a side note, they also had one of the first socialized medical programs - worked really well for the first few years, now they are overloaded and people are dying because there is not enough money to pay the socialized healthcare to take care of so many people... literally people die in hallways - like the state or county hospitals in major U.S. cities...

I believe it's all the same - like Winston Churchill said - "Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been"

.. basically, he's saying it's the lesser of all evils.

Answer 4

It's true - however it's not full pay - it's much less than you'd make if you were working...but it's something. Either Moms can have time off or Dads but not both.

Employers don't like it - it's hard to get a replacement for 1 yr....and they must keep the person's job open for them when they return.

It's not all it's cracked up to be

Answer 5

That kind of attitude would not have made us the greatest, most powerful nation in the world, now would it. LOL J/K

I dont know, mabye because our population would be triple what it is now...a lot of people trying to take advantage of the system.

Plus, I'm sure that maternity leave varies by company, not country.

Answer 6

It may have to do with the tax rates & I believe it's called parental leave & can be used by either parent (not both). There's also a large reduction in the pay for parental leave, it simply gives the choice for either parent to stay home.

Answer 7

Because Canada sucks, and so do Canadians.... okay that is just the jealousy talking. Because it would cost to much to tax payers and companies oh and we need all the money we can get to build bombs.

Answer 8

Perhaps because Canada is slightly ahead of America in that issue.

Answer 9

Because they have a totally sh!tty healthcare system, and they give them the time off to make up for the fact that all their doctors are quacks, and they have to wait 6 months for an appointment? Just a guess...

Answer 10

Everybody wants to get their hands in the cookie jar, but no one wants to bake the cookies. No free lunches baby= someone has to pay