Pros and Cons of Parental Leave

"U.S. studies show that women who return to work later in the first year after giving birth are less depressed. Infant mortality rates are lower, too, and women are more likely to breastfeed. Yet the U.S. is one of only six countries in the world — in the company of Australia, Lesotho, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, and Swaziland — with no government mandate for paid maternity leave."

This item comes to us from the article, "French Leave," in Pink magazine (September, 2008). The article indicates, however, that in countries with generous parental leave, there are mixed opinions on its value. Many women praise it and take full advantage, while others fear that when they return to work they will have fallen behind their peers in fast-paced jobs. In fact, a study by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that "84% of men in the EU had not taken advantage of parental leave, nor were they intending to do so, mainly because of financial loss and fear of career damage."

This same OECD study concluded that the optimal period for parental leave seems to be around four to six months. "Most employers said that the mothers didn't feel it was right to go back before then," reported OECD senior economist Willem Adema, "but if they're out longer, they start to lose skills and it becomes doubtful they'll actually return."

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