Maternity leave and childcare go hand in hand as factors that women carefully consider when making plans about their career and family. Governments around the world have taken different approaches to mandating maternity leave that works for the family and the economy. See how US policy on maternity leave compares to a few other countries.
In Europe, mandatory leave is 14 weeks, though nearly every EU country offers time extensions (table reflects total time given per country). In Denmark, for example, a parent can take up to 52 weeks off for childcare, with 60% of their unemployment benefit paid, up to the child's 8th birthday. In the US, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 mandates that employees are allowed 12 weeks of leave, unpaid. However, many employers, particularly in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, offer paid packages.
In Germany, 85% of eligible families use their parental leave, but only 5% ...
