Summary
The article discusses how maternity leave policies vary across countries. Most developed countries offer paid maternity leave, but the United States does not have a national policy for paid leave. Countries like Estonia and Bulgaria have some of the most generous maternity leave policies.
Key Facts
- Maternity leave is time off work for mothers around childbirth.
- In developed countries, most maternity leave is paid, with variations in amount and duration.
- The OECD reports that all its member countries except the U.S. offer paid maternity leave.
- The U.S. allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Estonia offers over a year of job-protected leave with much of it paid.
- Bulgaria provides over a year of paid leave, with mothers receiving 90% of their salary.
- Norway and Sweden have flexible parental leave policies that include high wage replacement.
- Parental leave in some countries can be shared between mothers and fathers.
