The number of paid maternity/paternity leaves varies all across the world. Some countries value their employee’s health and family well-being and give a generous amount of leaves, while some countries just don’t believe that lots of paid leaves should be given for giving birth to a child.
Last October, The New York Times published a graph comparing paid maternity leaves all around the world.
Image credits: nytimes
The graph revealed that new mothers don’t get any maternity leave in the US and shared statistics from all over the globe. People online have responded to the graph and shared their own experiences with post-birth paid leaves in their countries. Scroll below to read what it’s like in various parts of the world.
#1
Image source: WerewolfBarMitzvah09, Lucas Margoni
Germany here, I’m originally from the US and can’t fathom having a baby in my home country honestly :/ I took off roughly 19 months maternity leave with each kid, the 6 weeks leading up to due date and the 8 weeks after were fully paid and then I received a reduced salary for the other months and continued to be insured and under pension plan. You can theoretically take 3 years of maternity leave here but the 3rd year is unpaid; however you can keep your job (they have to take you back afterwards) and continue to be insured/pensioned.
#2
Image source: pablo_the_bear, Vidal Balielo Jr.
I’m in Korea. I got five days of paternity leave. I guess I could have legally taken more time but it was actively discouraged by my work.
#3
Image source: thatcheekychick, Klara Kulikova
I come from Moldova – the poorest country in Europe. You get 3 years paid plus 3 years unpaid maternity leave where they have to keep your job. You don’t get paid much. I think it’s 70% first year and 30% after that, but at least it’s available. Coming to work after one year maternity leave is considered careerist
#4
Image source: drnhfer, Pixabay
Slovakia here. My wife and I just had a baby boy. She will get three years of maternity leave and I will get six months of paternity leave while making 75% of my income. We also get all sorts of one-time bonuses, tax deductions, etc. I almost feel guilty for being financially secure despite not having to work for so much time.
#5
Image source: xXxMemeLord69xXx, Liv Bruce
In Sweden we have three months of paid leave for each parent. Then a couple gets 300 days that they can divide between parents as they see fit.
#6
Image source: WurmiMama, Fallon Michael
In Austria we can choose between one or two years, if you choose the 2 years you only get about 500€ per month, if you choose the one year it depends on your income before parental leave and you get up to 1700€ a month. All families additionally get about 170€ monthly per child in government assistance no matter their income. Oh and men have the right to go on paternity leave (meaning their employer is legally obligated to grant them paternity leave). If mom and dad split parental leave evenly you get another 1000€ bonus from the state.
#7
Image source: ChristofferOslo, Pixabay
Norwegian men are required to take two weeks off when the baby is born. Paternal leave in total is a minimum of 15 paid weeks and two weeks right after birth.
#8
Image source: kaysuepacabra19, nappy
My husband and I work for the same company in the United States. We recently found out that we must SHARE our 12 weeks of unpaid leave. We originally thought we would get 12 weeks per person. America really needs to start caring about parents and families. It’s especially grating because I live in a religious red state where having families is a top priority, but the government isn’t actually helping people to realize that goal.
#9
In Canada, we have 12 or 18 months of maternity leave. You get paid 80% of your normal salary, but you get the same amount stretched out over either the course of a year or the 18 months.
#10
Image source: Ok_Battle9098, Pixabay
Living in Italy… My wife’s 2.500 euro wage became 287 euros a month. For 6 months. So, it’s more of a semi paid leave
#11
Image source: melanieg429f11f61, Andrea Piacquadio
I gave birth on a Friday. By Monday morning, my husband’s boss wanted him back in the office. That was the end of his paternity leave in the US.
#12
Image source: mariela_alv, Solen Feyissa
Costa Rica is a third-world country, but we still have four months of paid maternity leave. In government jobs, even men have one month to help. All mothers have daily paid time to breastfeed and it is mandatory to supply a healthy environment for them to do so.
#13
Image source: enerchia, Christian Bowen
In Romania paid maternity leave is up to 2 years and fathers can also request paternal leave.
#14
Image source: extrobe, Vidal Balielo Jr.
In the UK, we have maternity and paternity leave, but we also have a separate statutory minimum of two weeks leave for anyone giving birth. This makes it illegal to go back to work for two weeks even if you wanted to. This prevents women from being coerced into going back too soon.
#15
In Switzerland we have “only” 4 months. Compare to other countries in Europe already 1 of the less friendly system on the continent. Ppl from different European countries are usually pretty much surprised and feel sorry about us. (in France just the “daddy leave” is something like 3 months as I know)
From Europe the USA social system looks inhuman (as well as your Healthcare system) but from the States probably Europe seems communist.
What Bernie recommended (The Skandinavian HC model) is one of the best and healthiest system in Europe! I was pretty much surprised why that idea was not that popular in the States. Here in Europe we are very envious of the Swedish system and well-being level!
Image source: franzsi
#16
A decade or so ago, at my previous job one of my clients was a huge American media company, and I worked closely with one of their project managers, a woman I’ll call Violet. One day VIolet announced that she was going to take some time off because she was going to have a baby. I congratulated her, wished her the best, etc., expecting not talking to her again any time soon – over here women usually take at least a year off from work when they’re having a baby, at least if it’s their first, but often even with further kids.
Two weeks later Violet was back, like nothing happened, and I was like “oh my god, how come she’s back, did she have a miscarriage?! what should I say to her?!” and then turned out that the baby was fine, she just had to get back to work. Two f**king weeks, with a newborn baby. I’ve no idea how she managed, I hope she had a partner or someone to help her.
Image source: utsuriga
#17
As a German who will get 100% of her pay on leave 6 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after (and 67% of her pay for up to three years) and who cannot legally be fired the second she became pregnant I am just as flabbergasted as you are, but the other way around. I cannot believe this is not normal everywhere and I cannot believe they cut us down to 67% after 8 weeks, I think it should be at least 6 full months.
Image source: DeborahVanDenBoogah
#18
Image source: Dionesphere, Kristina Paukshtite
Belgium, I have mandatory 1 week before due date that I have to take, and a maximum of 6 weeks before DD. Then there is a mandatory 9 weeks I have to take postpartum but it can be extended by the 5 optional weeks before delivery, so 14 weeks in total.
First month I get paid 90% of my salary, then about 80% for the following months (so dumb if they make it mandatory leave). My hubby gets 20 workdays off (holidays don’t count), same with his wage.
I also get protection against termination from the moment you notify your job, with a signed letter from the doc ofc, so people here tell their jobs around the same time they tell everyone else (12 weeks).
My friend in Sweden thought this was ludicrously little time leave and that they have a minimum 5 months or so.
#19
Image source: emilyrmorgan, JESHOOTS.COM
I’m a NICU nurse. We had a mom from Denmark once. I mentioned to her that I was going to pump for my baby (8 months old) and I would be right back. When I got back, she had a lot of questions about pumping at work. She was flabbergasted that we have to go back to work while still breastfeeding. Apparently pumping at work is not a thing in Denmark because moms simply stay with their baby when they’re breastfeeding. She said she felt so bad for me, but I had never thought of it like that before.
#20
In Lithuania it’s one year paid maternity/paternity leave (77% of your salary). Or you can spread it out over 2 years and get 2 years paid maternity/paternity leave. The other parent also gets one month paid leave when the baby is born
