Maternity Benefits in England
Call me a socialist if you will - and you wouldn't be the first - but I just wanted to let you know what we're missing in this country.
I read an article from a United Kingdom publication that outlines benefits new mothers and fathers receive in England.
The article states new moms get 52 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of how long they have been on the job. For the first 39 weeks of leave, moms can get 90 percent of their regular pay. For the next 33 weeks, moms get a standard rate of 112.75 pounds ($225.05) per week - or 90 percent of their average weekly pay if that's lower. Their company is not required to pay them for the remaining 13 weeks. During that entire time, however, their jobs are secure.
Dads can take a two-week paternity leave and be paid at the same rate of 112.75 pounds per week, or 90 percent of their average weekly wages, if that is less.
Adoptive parents and those whose babies are stillborn are entitled to the same benefits.
By comparison, our nation's Family and Medical Leave Act only requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide 12 weeks of leave if you have been on the job for at least 12 months. The leave may be unpaid, but it may be combined with accrued paid leave (such as vacation or sick leave). That means, when you come back, you better not get sick or plan a vacation during the rest of that calendar year because chances are you won't have any time left.
Adoptive mom get less time to spend with their babies if they have to head back to the office immediately after the leave expires because they can't take advantage of the disability benefit that comes with childbirth. (You can make that argument to your employer, as I did, and ask for an extended leave. I got to stay home for a few more weeks.)
I couldn't immediately determine just how much more British citizens pay in taxes than Americans, but I'm fairly certain it is more. And you may not be thrilled with the U.K.'s socialized medicine, but hey, they are both perks we don't have here and they are both worth exploring.
As for the maternity leave, shouldn't we offer new parents the opportunity to spend more time at home to bond with their babies?
It will be interesting to see whether any of the presidential or congressional candidates includes such a critical issue to his or her campaign platform.
Talk about a family value.
Here's the Guardian link:
http://money.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,330293621-121284,00.html
I read an article from a United Kingdom publication that outlines benefits new mothers and fathers receive in England.
The article states new moms get 52 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of how long they have been on the job. For the first 39 weeks of leave, moms can get 90 percent of their regular pay. For the next 33 weeks, moms get a standard rate of 112.75 pounds ($225.05) per week - or 90 percent of their average weekly pay if that's lower. Their company is not required to pay them for the remaining 13 weeks. During that entire time, however, their jobs are secure.
Dads can take a two-week paternity leave and be paid at the same rate of 112.75 pounds per week, or 90 percent of their average weekly wages, if that is less.
Adoptive parents and those whose babies are stillborn are entitled to the same benefits.
By comparison, our nation's Family and Medical Leave Act only requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide 12 weeks of leave if you have been on the job for at least 12 months. The leave may be unpaid, but it may be combined with accrued paid leave (such as vacation or sick leave). That means, when you come back, you better not get sick or plan a vacation during the rest of that calendar year because chances are you won't have any time left.
Adoptive mom get less time to spend with their babies if they have to head back to the office immediately after the leave expires because they can't take advantage of the disability benefit that comes with childbirth. (You can make that argument to your employer, as I did, and ask for an extended leave. I got to stay home for a few more weeks.)
I couldn't immediately determine just how much more British citizens pay in taxes than Americans, but I'm fairly certain it is more. And you may not be thrilled with the U.K.'s socialized medicine, but hey, they are both perks we don't have here and they are both worth exploring.
As for the maternity leave, shouldn't we offer new parents the opportunity to spend more time at home to bond with their babies?
It will be interesting to see whether any of the presidential or congressional candidates includes such a critical issue to his or her campaign platform.
Talk about a family value.
Here's the Guardian link:
http://money.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,330293621-121284,00.html
1 Comments:
It's not just Great Britain. Much of Europe allows for at least 6 months and often a year of paid maternity leave. I am an "essential" employee and so all my precious 10 weeks were vacation/disability time. I could not invoke the FMLA.
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