Should new moms be allowed to stay home for at least one year with the baby,fully paid?

Answer 1

The US has the worst maternity leave of all industrialized countries. I do believe women should be offered a full year of paid maternity leave.

Numerous health organizations recommend at least one year of breastfeeding. As such, I believe the government ought to require employers to accommodate this recommendation.

If maternity benefits were extended, the cost of healthcare would go down because fewer children would require doctor visits. Additionally, mothers would take fewer sick days and would be able to be more devoted to her job.

Answer 2

Well in Canada (more specifically in Ontario, certain provinces like Quebec have better benefits).

Federally:
Any woman that gives birth is entitled to 17 weeks of unpaid leave. In certain cases of miscarriage and all still birth this is also given

Any man or women who becomes a parent through birth or adoption is entitled to 35 weeks of leave unpaid.

These unpaid leaves guarantee that your job will be there when you get back. If your job is filled you will be given an equal or better job at equal or better pay.

Provincially:
The maternity leave for all women that give birth the first 2 weeks are unpaid as a waiting period. The rest is paid at 55%, provided you have workd 600 insurable hours in the last 12 months. In certain cases of miscarriage and all still birth this is also given. Medical leave and death leaves may also be available paid or unpaid depending.

Parental leave, if the 2 week waiting period has not been done by the mother, in the case of adoption or if the mother does not work and is therefore not entitled to paid leave. Then the first two weeks are unpaid, if the mother has served the wait the whole 35 weeks is paid at 55%. The 35 weeks can be split between mom and dad in any way they wish. One can take the whole thing or they can share it out. Any leave must be started before the child turns 1.

Companies can top up this leave without the employee loosing benefits. Otherwise if you earn more than $50/week (or some percentage whichever is greate) every dollar over the limit is deducted one for one.

It works pretty well for most families. And our "employment insurance" fund still runs a surplus every year.

Answer 3

Yes, being a mom is the single most important job to a society and it shoule be treated as such. If you think about every societal ill, we always ask about the parents. Many countries give moms (a couple of countries even give dad) a year off paid and they have a better education system, and stronger families. It may sound a little socialist but the truth is if the mom and dad don't do well, then the next generation of workers, leaders, and society itself is broken and cannot do well. I'm all for it. Besides, if mom can stay home, for many it would be no big deal to take care of grandma so she didn't have to go to a nursing home.

Answer 4

In most developed countries they can and do get much longer paid leaves then we do here. In Finland both parents get 18 months leave at full pay which can be taken consecutively so the baby would be 3 before it had to go to daycare or school. It would be better for child dev if the mother or father could stay home for the 1st year or longer but all we care about here is the dollar so don't hold your breath.

Answer 5

I think that's a bit extreme, but I think maternity leave should definately be extended. For instance, maybe it should be 12 weeks paid, and any additional time goes down (pay-wise) in 12 week increments. For instance, the next 12 weeks is 75% paid, the following 12 weeks is 50% paid, etc. And the main thing is, there needs to be laws to secure your job if you are out for a year.

Answer 6

While being a parent is probably the most important job we ever face, you have no right to obligate an employer with that burden.

It is very important for the mother to spend as much time with the child during the early years of its life.

I would suggest it is equally important both parents to live within their means and be able to have the mother stay at home with the child.

It's frustrating to see why people always suggest that they should receive something for nothing. Ultimately, someone or something always has to pay for what is perceived as a free benefit. Nothing in life is free, someone or something will always have to pay for that entitlement.

Be responsible adults, be responsible parents, live within your means and everything will work out.

Answer 7

NOOOOO. That is nothing more then another way to screw the Employers. Having a baby is an excuse for stopping everything, and most women would not breath unless God made it an automatic response. Women do not realize that taking care of a kid is MORE work then a regular job.

Answer 8

Come to Canada... we do here. Well not fully paid... but 55% of your GROSS income.
You get 15 weeks of Maternity leave and 35 weeks of parental leave. The parental leave can be split between the parents, or all 35 weeks to one parent.

Answer 9

I don't think it's up to the employer to pay you to raise your children. I think families make that sacrifice when they choose to begin a family. HOWEVER, if all employers wanted to get together to offer their employee's a type of affordable insurance that would cover this type of situation...that would be smart.

Answer 10

I think maybe for 6 months. 3 months is too short, but I think asking for a year of full pay is a bit much.