Why do we have such crappy maternity laws?

Question

It seems that in nearly every other country, mothers are given an abundance of matrnity leave. In the united states, the average is abotu 6 weeks. In other countries, you can take maternity leave for a few months to a couple of years. I found out that in Switzerland, you get about 2 years for maternity leave with pay!!! Does the US really just not care abotu mothers?

Guy O, If I was asking this question regaurding myself I would either A) be pregnant, B) have taken maternity leave C) have worked while pregnant D) had to leave a newborn to return to work

Since none of the following involve me, I guess you can assume I wasn't asking about myself

Answer 1

it seems like it doesn't it....I also saw in other countries that women are able to get $3,000 for having there baby...(it's to help out with diaper costs and food and such) BUT OF COURSE, it's not available in the US...I think that it's because there's not many fricking people living in the US these days, that it wouldn't be financially possible to give so many women off that many days. We need to move to another country.

Answer 2

Are our laws crappy? I hadn't noticed. I don't think it is the government's job to "care about mothers." How much maternity leave is granted is really up to your employer--they can give an unlimited amount of maternity leave and other benefits should they choose to do so.

Besides that, socialism (the form of govt in which you have the best maternity benefits) only work in societies in which everyone is just a like--same values, same religion, same education, same income...You aren't describing the US.

On a recent visit to Norway, I learned that the state pays for pre-natal care, a 4-day minimum hospital stay, day care, and an excessive amount of maternity leave. Good for them, BUT ethnic Norwegians have a maximum of two children because no one wants to bancrupt the welfare state. It's sort of an unspoken understanding they have with each other. It seems to be working quite well, EXCEPT...

They are now experiencing an influx of immigrants from the middle east and these folks are having as many children as they possibly can--let's face it, many of us would do that if the government were paying for everything from birth to the grave!

Many ethnic Norwegians are angry that the newly arrived immigrants are taking advantage of and will eventually cause their system to implode. This tension is bringing about a lot of racial tension and nationalism. It's my understanding that this is the case in many of the European countries that taut the fantastic benefits of which you speak. So really, they have just traded one set of problems for another.

AND if you want to know what gov't run health care will look like in the US, take a look at the Walter Reed Medical Center in DC. Wow! All our hospitals could one day be in the same crappy condition with the same incompetent administration.

I know that is probably not what you wanted to hear, but I am not about to moan about how terrible we have it in our wonderfully diverse nation. You really cannot compare the US to any other place on earth and you certainly can't think someone else's system of government will be a success here without broadening the question to include more than maternity leave.

Answer 3

In some other European countries you also get 2 years paid leave. However, it's probably because they have a different set of problems. Not enough people are having babies over there. If they were going to only get a few weeks off like Americans, their problem would just get worse.

As far as Americans go, I'm not sure why the laws are like this. I guess profit takes precedence over personal interests and family.

Answer 4

The US laws have, mostly, been made by men, so what do you expect?

Switzerland is a cradle to grave country. This means that the state will take care of everyone's needs from birth to death. The drawback for cradle to grave countries is, the people who work pay extremely high taxes. Those high taxes go to pay for those that are not working.

The choice is up to the American People. Do you want high taxes (and that is for everyone, not just a select few) for cradle to grave government support? Or, would you like lower taxes and more personal responsibility?

Answer 5

I agree. We are far behind other countries. Other countries are more "mommy friendly" However if the employer had to pay for women to be off.. they would simply hire all men.

However we have more people that could work, laying on welfare having babies they cant afford. They dont even try to better them selves, its easier to be taken care of.....

This drags down the economy. I personally dont think the government should pay for maternity leave though. If you want children, and want the time to recover you should get it off with job security, but unpaid leave.

I needed the money after my first son was born. I went back to work at 10 days after he was born. I went to a nursing home and worked as a nurses aide. I knew they wouldnt ask any questions because they needed help....... I did what I had to to support my child. With baby 2 i saved, and paid bills ahead so that I could take time off.... My dr was not happy, but like i told him. My son needed formula, needed electricity, and diapers. ( My husband would NOT WORK) So I did what I had to to support my baby. I did not want welfare I was able to work.

So many take advantage of help when its offered, make people unwilling to extend a helping hand. The Us needs to have a better way to check up on those getting assistance, that way the ones commiting fraud can get caught and help cut off. I would rather my Tax money go to children then to fund the war.

Answer 6

I totally feel the same way. I'm 2 months pregnant and am struggling about what I need to do after I give birth. My company only offers "Paid time off (PTO)" which is earned every hour you're at work. We're not giving sick leave. I drag myself to work even when I don't feel well so I don't have to use my PTO. Even if I save every hour and never use it, I'll only accumulate little over a month off. It totally sucks!! I wonder if there's anything we can do to change our US law for maternity leave. If there is, I will most definitely be an active participant.

And in response to Nurse Kerr, FMLA isn't one year in the US, it's only 3 months. This isn't in addition to your vacation or sick days. It counts your total time off. So if you have one month vacation/sick days, you can take 2 more months off without getting fired. But notice, it is UNPAID.

Answer 7

I think that it has a lot to do with the economy. Women are now providers as often as men are, so the economy really can't afford to be without employees. Also, with all the changes in technology, etc, two years off can be career suicide, as you will come back and be literally lost!
But I think those are poor excuses.
In France we get considerable amounts of time both paid and not paid, and I believe it's better for Mom and baby and for the family unit in general.
And you're right, the FMLA says you have to have WORKED for one year to be eligible for three months of unpaid leave. And if it's a small company then they don't have to give it to you!
And Guy O...you're a nut. A total nut. You don't think society owes mothers something? You talk about having children like it's buying a car or something...it's contributing to society!!
And to the answerer below me...most European countries who offer leave offer it to men, too.

Answer 8

I think its because now days family arent the most important thing in a womens life like it used to be, now they care about the career and wherever they work just wants back to work to make them more money!!!!!

Answer 9

Probably because most of those laws were written by men. lol
Seriously, remember, most European nations have womb to tomb health care, so maternity leave is probably included within that philosophy.

Answer 10

well...the reason y we have such crappy maternity laws is because of guys like 'guy o' running around making babies and not giving a shiot....he don't have to carry, he don't have to labor, he don't have to worry about getting up in the middle of the night cuz the baby is sick, he don't have to worry about calling off at his job because the baby has a doc appt.....it's guys like THAT that run this country and the women get SHAFTED......and THAT my friend, is the reason why we have such crappy laws....:D