How much maternity and paternity leave should employees get?
Yahoo's Marissa Mayer sparks yet another round of debate on work-life balance
Just nine months after Marissa Mayer had her first baby — and sparked a national debate by taking only two weeks leave — Yahoo's 37-year-old CEO is making headlines again, this time for expanding maternity and paternity benefits. New moms will get 16 weeks paid leave after a baby is born, while new dads will get eight. And employees who have been with the company for five years or longer will receive $500 for expenses like onesies and babysitters.
Though it may look like a peace offering to Mayer's haters, Huffington Post's Alexis Kleinman says it's actually "Yahoo's latest attempt to lure talent by offering benefits in line with other Silicon Valley powerhouses." Indeed, big tech companies, including Mayer's ex-employer Google, offer some of the best benefits in the country. Google gives moms 22 weeks paid leave, and Facebook offers four months for both moms and dads. Facebook also offers $4K in spending cash. Compare that to Ford, which gives six to eight weeks paid maternity leave and only unpaid paternity leave.
And compare that to how much companies are legally required to offer under the Family and Medical Leave Act: 12 weeks unpaid.
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So how does the U.S. measure up to the rest of the world? As this infographic shows, some countries require employers to give nearly a year of paid maternity leave.
And here's a more complete chart that shows paid leave requirements around the world.
The vast range in legal minimums leads to the question: How long of a break do new parents need after having or adopting a child? Judging from the debate surrounding Mayer's pregnancy, there's no easy answer.
Some argue that months of paid leave is essential, not just for the workers, but for society at large. Sarah Jane Glynn and Jane Ferrell of American Progress say:
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Jessica Grose of Slate argues that it's not just a question of quantity, but flexibility as well:
But some think companies shouldn't be required to pay workers for maternity leave. Jenny Erison from The Stir argues, "It's not your right to ask other people to support you while you fulfill your baby dreams."
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Carmel Lobello is the business editor at TheWeek.com. Previously, she was an editor at DeathandTaxesMag.com.
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