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Old 06-24-2012, 06:19 PM
 
Location: Texas
44,256 posts, read 64,165,784 times
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I think a better idea is to get back to a culture n which one parent can stay home with the kids.

I mean, 6 weeks, one year...what is the difference? Does the kid not need a mother/father after one year?!
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Old 06-24-2012, 06:24 PM
 
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The US does not have a fertility rate problem like Slovenia. Some countries' fertility rates are so bad that they even started to pay non working women a stipend to have children (re: Estonia).

Perhaps someone can sway me, but I am not sold on the idea of paid maternity leave. That should be up to the firm, but I don't think the tax payer should be paying for maternity leave for government employees. However, unpaid leave is fine with the promise of your job back within a certain time frame. The woman's job should be protected and it would be unfair for her to lose it for simply bearing a child and taking time off.
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Old 06-24-2012, 06:26 PM
 
Location: Pluto's Home Town
9,982 posts, read 13,720,885 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter View Post
I'd like to see women get 6 months off at 50% pay, and I'm willing to pay more in taxes. I strongly believe in it.
This seems a moderate view. In the big picture, few times are more important than the early postnatal period, for families and society.

In respnse to Stan4, I agree that parentding does not stop at 6 months! I Know I still struggle with this, as our 8 y.o. son has developed behavioral challenges (borderline Asperger's syndrome), and I have probably received 50 calls from schools and caregivers about his behavior over the last 4 years. I used to spank and berate the boy, but I realize he just does not have the emotional stability to keep it together for long stints away from home. It doesn't feel good to warehouse the boy all day everyday with people who don't know him and his special needs. But life is not easy, and I certainly don't expect help from the state or my employer. Only to say, that the two income family bears new social costs. And building strong families is a bedrock of strong society, I think.
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Old 06-24-2012, 07:21 PM
 
Location: Land of debt and Corruption
7,545 posts, read 8,306,680 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stan4 View Post
I think a better idea is to get back to a culture n which one parent can stay home with the kids.

I mean, 6 weeks, one year...what is the difference? Does the kid not need a mother/father after one year?!
Good point. I don't think society is ready for that though. Back in the days when one parent (usually the mother) stayed home, it was rare for a family to have more than one car. There were no cell phone bills, expensive summer camps, satellite tv, internet bills. Going out to dinner was something special and a rarity. People aren't ready to give all that up.
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Old 06-24-2012, 07:23 PM
 
Location: Great State of Texas
86,052 posts, read 84,246,121 times
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Company gave me 6 weeks, I took another 6 weeks leave and then worked 6 months p/t and then went back full time.
I started socking away the money for the 9 months prior so I could afford to take additional time off and then work part time.
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Old 06-24-2012, 08:14 PM
 
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It should be between the employer and employee and no one else.
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Old 06-24-2012, 09:41 PM
 
Location: California
37,083 posts, read 42,050,241 times
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I had 6 weeks off and was paid through CA state disability some reduced amount of money related to my salary. That was over 20 years ago and I understand the laws have changed to allow additional time off, up to 16 weeks in some cases. I'm not sure how it all works now but that seems like plenty to me.
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Old 06-24-2012, 09:50 PM
 
Location: Midwest
38,496 posts, read 25,717,826 times
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Take a look at how America compares to all other countries with paid maternity leave. Who says America has a high standard of living?

Paid Maternity Leave > Parental Leave statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster
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Old 06-24-2012, 11:48 PM
 
Location: Pluto's Home Town
9,982 posts, read 13,720,885 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jojajn View Post
Take a look at how America compares to all other countries with paid maternity leave. Who says America has a high standard of living?

Paid Maternity Leave > Parental Leave statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster
Good find. Pretty interesting that all those countries value it to such a degree. Also a good reminder that when people talk about use being "socialist," it really does not fly.
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Old 06-25-2012, 12:08 AM
 
Location: Meggett, SC
11,011 posts, read 10,982,546 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jojajn View Post
Take a look at how America compares to all other countries with paid maternity leave. Who says America has a high standard of living?

Paid Maternity Leave > Parental Leave statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster
I have been torn about maternity leave. My conservative side detests the idea of yet another gov't funded social program. However, my family centered side wishes more families could have one parent stay home with the child. Pure economics make this an impossible choice for most families. The reality is that this is a complex problem. I wish it were so easy as to say don't have any children unless one parent can stay home. However, that could be forever for most families.

I think people tend to oversimplify this issue. It's actually pretty important because I firmly believe the erosion of the familial unit has been the cause of many of our modern day issues with respect to crime, lack of values, lack of personal responsibility, etc. I guess, for me, if I had to choose something to spend gov't funds on, I would prefer maternity leave over some other useless gov't programs. However, I also think my fiscally conservative side would likely never embrace such an idea. Interested to see what ideas other people have about maternity leave.
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