Taking maternity leave

Description

Taking maternity leave involves formally stepping away from work duties for a designated period to allow for childbirth, recovery, and early childcare. This strategy ensures the health and well-being of both mother and child, supports work-life balance, and helps prevent job loss or discrimination due to pregnancy. By providing job protection and income continuity, maternity leave remedies workplace inequality and promotes family stability during a critical life transition.

Implementation

All of the industrialized nations except Australia and the USA now provide paid and job-protected maternity leave for employed women. The actual rate of pay varies between 50% and 100% of salary. In some countries paternity leave is also provided for. Sweden and Finland noticeably provide the most maternity leave: 52 to 65 weeks at a rate of pay that is fixed or equal to 80% of the salary, and 18 to 46 weeks at a rate of pay equalling 80% of the salary, respectively. Most industrialized countries give no more than 16 weeks paid maternity leave.