Advanced paid Maternity Leave

[VTamy (Amy)]

In America mothers have to go back to work two weeks after giving birth. You are granted 12 weeks unpaid. This means you will not get fired if you miss 12 weeks but you will have no income unless you saved. In Canada maternity leave is 15 weeks and the mother receives 55% of her income weekly. Sweden is 480 days off paid entirely. Greece with 43 weeks of paid maternity leave at 63% of the employee’s salary . Slovakia with 34 weeks of paid maternity leave at 75% of the employee’s salary. Poland with 20 weeks of paid maternity leave at 100% of the employee’s salary. Luxembourg with 20 weeks of paid maternity leave at 100% of the employee’s salary. America needs to put the children first. We need to respect mothers who have just birthed the next generation. When I had my child two years ago it was extremely stressful not knowing what I was going to do for income. She needed heart surgery. I was out of work for almost seven months. I had saved up but ran out of money quickly. Moreover, bonding between mother and child is most important during the first two years. We need to get with the times and implement what other countries have done for parents with paid maternity leave. Thank you.