Which Nations Offer Paid Prolonged Parental Leave?

Paid maternity leave is a crucial employee benefit that companies should offer to improve employee well-being and talent retention. Over 120 countries offer paid maternity leave for employees, with women providing the primary source of income in 30 of households worldwide. The average length of paid maternity leave is 20 weeks, with Estonia offering the best paid maternity leave in terms of time off and the amount of the employee’s salary.

The United States, one of the richest countries in the world, is one of the few countries not to offer some form of paid family leave for new parents. Countries with the longest maternity leave include Norway, which offers 49 weeks at 100 pay (or 59 weeks at 80 pay), Slovakia, which offers 34 weeks at 75 pay, and the Czech Republic, which offers 34 weeks at 75 pay.

The most paid maternity leave by law includes the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy, with the Czech Republic offering 28 weeks, Hungary 24 weeks, and Italy 5 months. Bulgaria is the world leader in maternity leave, mandating 58 weeks of time off at 90 salary. The international recommended minimum standard for maternity leave is 14.

In addition to maternity leave, countries with the best paternity leave include Japan, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Greece, and more. Spain and the Netherlands also offer 100 pay for the full duration of paternity leave, with some countries offering up to 90 of pay.

The top five countries for maternity leave are Bulgaria, Greece, the United Kingdom, Croatia, and Chile.

How long is maternity leave in the Netherlands?

Pregnancy and maternity leave are granted to employees 6 to 4 weeks before the due date, with the right to determine the date yourself. After delivery, a minimum of 10 weeks of maternity leave is allowed, and the combined leave must be at least 16 weeks. If both parents are adopting or foster care, they both have 6 weeks of paid leave. To take pregnancy leave, employees must submit a pregnancy form to their employer 3 weeks before the desired date.

How long is maternity leave in Finland?

Maternity leave starts at 50 to 30 working days before the estimated due date, and Finnish Social Insurance Institution, Kela, pays a 105-day maternity allowance (äitiysraha) for mothers. They can claim a special maternity allowance if they were absent from work due to exposure to chemical substances, radiation, or infectious diseases, unavoidable risk factors, or the employer cannot organize other duties during pregnancy.

Is maternity leave paid for 3 years in Germany?

After a child’s birth, mothers and fathers have the right to take a break from work to care for their child and spend time with their family. Employers can only terminate employment relationships in exceptional circumstances, such as insolvency or business shutdown. Employees can request up to three years off work, but they will not receive pay. To compensate, they can apply for parental allowance, which can be taken before or between their child’s third and eighth birthdays. Parents have the right to work as much as before taking leave.

Employees with a German employment contract, including full-time, part-time, marginal employment, fixed-term, or permanent contracts, are entitled to parental leave until the child reaches three. Students, pupils, interns, self-employed people, or unemployed people are not entitled to parental leave. If both parents are employed, they can take parental leave alternately or simultaneously. However, parental leave is only available to working mothers and fathers who live in the same household as the child and predominantly care for their child themselves.

Which country pays the best for maternity leave?

Norway offers a generous statutory maternity leave policy, providing just over a year of leave at 96 pay. This leaves working parents with the option to take paid leave during the first weeks or months of their child’s life. This is particularly important for businesses and employees, as parental leave is a crucial consideration for both parties. The country’s statutory paid maternity leave in weeks is 54, while the United Kingdom’s policy is 39. This leaves working parents with the flexibility to balance work and childcare responsibilities.

How long is maternity leave in Sweden?

Swedish parental leave is a system that grants parents 480 days of paid leave when a child is born or adopted, with 240 days for parents with two children and 90 days for those born in 2016 or later. Single parents are entitled to a full 480 days. Fathers in Sweden currently average around 30% of all paid parental leave. Childcare and schooling also contribute to work-life balance, with children in Sweden having the right to a place in nursery school at a modest fee from the age of one until compulsory school begins in autumn.

How long is paid maternity leave in Sweden?

Sweden, a highly ranked country in terms of parental leave, has a unique approach to gender roles. After the birth of a child, both parents are eligible for 240 days of leave, with 90 days designated as a minimum for each parent and the remaining 150 days transferable upon consent. This flexibility allows for a balance between traditional gender dynamics within couples and corporate expectations that pressure fathers to take only the weeks specifically allotted to them. However, this does not guarantee a more progressive view of a woman’s place in society.

Sweden’s current politics are influenced by rightwing forces, leading to a trend towards returning “traditional family values” to the fore. This may lead to the reversal of rights once thought well protected, as women are not re-entering the workforce at the same rate as men after parental leave. The country’s welfare system, which takes care of material needs, may paradoxically produce a degree of complacency that allows outmoded, conservative social expectations to prosper. In a safe, stable, and wealthy country like Sweden, conforming comes naturally, and traditional expectations may play a role in the majority of flexible leave.

How long is paid maternity leave in Denmark?

Denmark offers parental leave to parents living together at the time of a child’s birth. The mother receives four weeks of leave before the birth, while each parent receives 24 weeks of leave with parental benefit after the birth, totaling 52 weeks. If you work in Denmark, the rules apply. If you’re unsure about your entitlement, contact Udbetaling Danmark. New rules came into force on 2 August 2022, but old rules apply for children born before this date.

How long is maternity leave in Denmark?

Denmark offers 24 weeks of parental leave for families living together at the time of a child’s birth. The mother receives four weeks of leave before the birth, while each parent receives 24 weeks of leave with parental benefit after the birth, totaling 52 weeks. If you work in Denmark, the rules apply to you. If you’re unsure about your entitlement, contact Udbetaling Danmark. New rules came into force on 2 August 2022, but old rules apply for children born before this date.

How long is maternity leave in Norway?

Parents are entitled to 12 months of leave during and after the birth of their child, including up to 12 weeks during pregnancy and six weeks after birth. They must apply for leave three months before the start date. Parents also receive one year of leave for each birth, taken directly after the first year. If the parent is taking care of the child, they are entitled to both years, while other caregivers may also be entitled to leave.

How long is paid maternity leave in Finland?

Parental allowances in Finland are paid for 158 days after the maternity allowance period, and can be paid to either parent. Both parents can take partial parental leave simultaneously, resulting in both receiving partial parental allowance from Kela. Paternity allowance is paid to the father for a maximum of 54 working days, which can partially overlap with the mother’s allowance days. Parental allowances can be applied to Kela after the child’s birth, including pregnancy allowance, parental allowance, and special pregnancy allowance. Health insurance in Finland is required to receive these allowances. Partial parental allowance is available for part-time work.