Parental leave

"Maternity leave" and "Paternity leave" redirect here. For other uses, see Maternity Leave (Lost) and Paternity Leave (film).

Demonstration for parental leave in the European Parliament

Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries.[1] The term "parental leave" may include maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and "paternity leave" to describe separate family leave available to either parent to care for their own children.[2] In some countries and jurisdictions, "family leave" also includes leave provided to care for ill family members. Often, the minimum benefits and eligibility requirements are stipulated by law.

Unpaid parental or family leave is provided when an employer is required to hold an employee's job while that employee is taking leave. Paid parental or family leave provides paid time off work to care for or make arrangements for the welfare of a child or dependent family member. The three most common models of funding are government-mandated social insurance/social security (where employees, employers, or taxpayers in general contribute to a specific public fund), employer liability (where the employer must pay the employee for the length of leave), and mixed policies that combine both social security and employer liability.[3]

Parental leave has been available as a legal right or governmental program for many years in one form or another. In 2014, the International Labour Organization reviewed parental leave policies in 185 countries and territories, and found that all countries except Papua New Guinea have laws mandating some form of parental leave.[4] A different study showed that of 186 countries examined, 96% offered some pay to mothers during leave, but only 44% of those countries offered the same for fathers.[5] The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the United States are the only seven countries in the United Nations that do not require employers to provide paid time off for new parents.[6][7][8] Private employers sometimes provide either or both unpaid and paid parental leave outside of or in addition to any legal mandate.

Research has linked paid parental leave to better health outcomes for children,[9] as well as mothers.[10]

  1. ^ "U.S. behind most of world in parental leave policy: study; Papua New Guinea, Swaziland & U.S. lag". Daily News. New York. 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ Ruhm, Christopher J. (1998). "The Economic Consequences of Parental Leave Mandates: Lessons from Europe" (PDF). Quarterly Journal of Economics. 113 (1): 285–317. doi:10.1162/003355398555586. S2CID 51297709.
  3. ^ Addati, Laura (1 January 2015). "Extending maternity protection to all women: Trends, challenges and opportunities". International Social Security Review. 68 (1): 69–93. doi:10.1111/issr.12060. ISSN 1468-246X.
  4. ^ International Labour Organization. (2014). Maternity and Paternity at Work: Law and Practice Across the World.
  5. ^ Gualt, Barbara; Hartmann, Heidi; Hegewisch, Ariane; Milli, Jessica; Reichlin, Lindsey. "Paid Parental Leave in the United States" (PDF). Institute for Women's Policy Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  6. ^ Deahl, Jessica (6 October 2016). "Countries Around The World Beat The U.S. On Paid Parental Leave". NPR.org. NPR.
  7. ^ "Is paid leave available for both parents of infants?". World Policy Analysis Center. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Note: Suriname is the latest country to introduce paid leave" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Bütikofer, Aline; Riise, Julie; Skira, Meghan M. (2021). "The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health". American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 13 (1): 67–105. doi:10.1257/pol.20190022. hdl:11250/2490368. ISSN 1945-7731. S2CID 234033258.