In the U.S., many parents return to work right away after a new baby — even if they don’t want to — because they simply can’t afford not to do so without paid family leave. What is paid family leave? It’s generally a catchall term that can include maternity, paternity, and adoption leave — or even a separate leave to care for a child or other family members.
Given that paid family leave isn’t assured in President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, it seems as if it would behoove us to learn more about what family leave looks like in the U.S. currently, as well as how other countries across the world handle it. Here are quick glimpses of paid family leave from not only the U.S., but 12 other countries, each with their own stipulated minimum benefits and eligibility requirements.
United States
Canada
Our lovely neighbor to the north, Canada is in the relative middle of the pack compared to other nations and their family leave. Canada’s employment insurance (EI) for maternity and parental leave are for “people who are away from work because they’re pregnant or have recently given birth” or for “parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child.”
The person giving birth can apply for maternity leave and parental leave afterward, and the other parent can also apply to share the parental leave. There is a stipulation that if people choose to share their leave with a partner, they have to choose the same kind of leave (standard or extended) and that no one parent can take more than 35 weeks (standard) or 61 weeks (extended) of leave.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: Up to 15 weeks (maternity), up to 40 weeks shared (standard parental), up to 69 weeks shared (extended parental)
- For both parents: Only the parent giving birth can take maternity leave, both parents can share either standard or extended parental leave
- Rate: 55% of wages, up to a maximum of $472.65 (USD) a week (maternity and standard parental), 33% of wages, up to a maximum of $283.59 (USD) a week (extended parental)
- Baby services provided: Provides resources and learning materials and access to information
Chile
Chile not only has one of the longest minimum required weeks for maternity leave (30 weeks), they also are one of the few countries that require 100% of their paid salary. In addition, mothers are required to take leave six weeks before birth and 12 weeks after. However, as great as the maternity leave is, paternity leave is five days whether for birth or adoption. Another progressive measure passed by Chile’s first female president Michelle Bachelet provides all Chilean kids ages 0 to 6 with childcare and healthcare services.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: Up to 30 weeks maternity leave (mandatory six weeks before birth, 12 weeks after, optional additional 12 weeks); five days for fathers or those adopting
- For both parents: Not really (fathers only get five days)
- Rate: 100% of wages
- Baby services provided: Free childcare and healthcare services from 0 to 6 years old
Estonia
Estonia boasts one of the longest leaves of any country. New mothers can receive up to 140 days of pregnancy and maternity leave at 100% wages and an additional 435 paid days they can split with their partner, called parental benefits. These parental benefits can be claimed by any parent (foster, adoptive, or guardian) and can extend until the child is 3 years old — all with guaranteed job protection. The caregiver can take the leave continuously or in stretches of working and staying home.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: 140 days (pregnancy and maternity leave), 435 days (parental benefit split between both parents)
- For both parents: Yes, the parental benefit can be shared
- Rate: 100% of wages (or the minimum wage)
- Baby services provided: In addition to the parental benefit, there is also a child allowance that is paid until 16 years of age
Finland
Starting in 2021, parents can take up to 164 days leave each — and will be able to transfer 69 of their days from their allotment to the other parent. The first 26 weeks are paid at 70% employee wages and a flat rate for the balance. Parents are also paid an allowance for the baby until they are 13 weeks old, and single parents will have the right to both parental payments. Yet despite it’s very generous parental leave, fathers in Finland tend not to use all their entitled parental leave days.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: 164 days
- For both parents: Yes, a parent can transfer 69 of their days to the other parent
- Rate: 70% of wages the first 26 weeks, a flat rate for the remaining weeks
- Baby services provided: Parental allowance for baby from 0 to 13 weeks, single parents are entitled to both parental allowances
Israel
In Israel, women are guaranteed paid maternity leave for at least 15 weeks by the National Insurance Institute. Depending on the length of employee service at a company, the maternity leave can be even longer (up to 26 weeks). After mothers have taken six weeks of leave, families can choose to split the remaining weeks between each other. The father can overlap one week of leave with the mother if they forgo the last week of family leave.
Of note, Israeli maternity leave allows for miscarriages, abortions, stillbirths, and death of the child after birth. In addition, there is an allowance paid to parents to help allay the costs associated with raising children.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: Up to 15 weeks (or 26 weeks if employed with the same employer more than a year)
- For both parents: Yes, parents can choose to split the remaining maternity leave after mother has taken six weeks
- Rate: 100% of maternity allowance
- Baby services provided: Paid child allowance to the family for children under 18; special allowance allotted for women who birth or adopt three or more children at the same time
Japan
In an effort to bolster the Japanese national birth rate as well as increase women in the workforce, both parents are entitled up to a year of paid parental leave after a child is born. For the first six months, parents receive 67% of their wages, and for the latter six months, they receive 50%. One parent is allowed to take leave up to their child turning 14 months old if both parents take some of their leave. Like many other countries, despite having one of the more generous paternity leaves in the world, few fathers take advantage of it, likely out of fear for their future employment prospects.
- Length of paid time off new parents are allowed: Up to 52 weeks (can be extended until the child turns 14 months old if eligible)
- For both parents: Yes
- Rate: 67% of wages first six months, 50% of wages second six months
- Baby services provided: Child allowance until the child is 3 years old
