Re:The case for national paid maternity leave
by curryst on Wednesday May 20, 2020 @01:23PM
(#23249414)
> It's a circular argument, since the main reason men aren't taking time off work to devote to parenting is the absence of such a leave.
This is not true. Germany introduced paid paternity leave, and the rates that men use it is still far lower than the rates of maternity leave usage. [1] Other countries might differ, Google wasn't providing me very good results for paternity vs maternity leave usage.
It's a circular argument, since the main reason men aren't taking time off work to devote to parenting is the absence of such a leave.
The reality is that if you provide the leave, everyone will use it. (I work for a company that provides one, though a rather short one).
Ideally, the law will be written such that it's not an either-or scenario, and both parents could take the leave consecutively should they choose to (e.g. eligibility for a 6-month leave starting within 6 months of becoming a new parent).
And this will make it much harder for companies to discriminate, as it spreads the risks out. Old men can (and do) father children too.