From CNN
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From Dice
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What do you think? Is it an injustice to fathers to give them less leave?
From DiceNine months after Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer gave birth, she is extending Yahoo's parental leave policy.
Both new mothers and fathers at Yahoo can now take eight weeks of paid parental leave, and the mothers can take an additional eight weeks. What's more, new parents will also receive $500 to buy items like groceries and baby clothes.
What do you think? Is it an injustice to fathers to give them less leave?Following the backlash from its recent telecommuting ban, Yahoo has doubled its paid maternity leave for new mothers from eight to 16 weeks. But new fathers didn't fare as well - they'll continue to have only eight weeks' leave under the new policy.
Yahoo's approach is just the latest example of fatherhood getting the short-shrift in family leave, which is echoed across a number of companies and industries. But in the technology industry, which is largely male, this discrepancy is magnified.
Because she is the one recovering from pregnancy and childbirth.
Maybe the mother generally handles the bulk of the childcare because our society persists in creating and maintaining obstacles for fathers to participate in parenting. Obstacles like discriminatory attitudes and discriminatory leave policies.Originally Posted by pek64
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Because she is the one recovering from pregnancy and childbirth.
Because she is (hopefully) breastfeeding, and may need the time to establish breastfeeding and get comfortable with pumping.
Because the mother generally handles the bulk of childcare.
Why should the fathers get more leave?
They shouldn't get more leave, they should get the same as women.Originally Posted by pek64
Because she is the one recovering from pregnancy and childbirth.
Because she is (hopefully) breastfeeding, and may need the time to establish breastfeeding and get comfortable with pumping.
Because the mother generally handles the bulk of childcare.
Why should the fathers get more leave?
Allowing fathers the same amount of leave doesn't mean that birth mothers get less time than they need for recovery.Your argument isn't logical. Extending equal benefits to both doesn't somehow interfere with a mother's recovery. She can take the leave if she wants or needs it. No one is saying that she cannot. It would be between her and the father to decide who will take leave and how much. Equal access to benefits will allow families the flexibility they need in all sorts of individual circumstances to care for their child and establish and strengthen their new relationships.Originally Posted by pek64
When I asked why should fathers get more leave, I did not mean more than the mothers. I meant more than the 8 weeks being offered.
And, as I said, not just because of breastfeeding. Mothers are recovering physically from pregnancy and childbirth. For that reason alone women should get more parental leave than men! When a man goes through pregnancy and childbirth, THEN he's entitled to the same amount of leave! If my husband has a heart attack, and is on leave, recovering, I do not get leave. Why would I?
Fair is not same. The leaves should be fair. That does not mean they should be the same duration.
Companies cannot offer huge amounts of paid leave to both men and women, and stay in business. I think 8 weeks, 2 months, is great for dads. Realistically, pushing for more is likely to result in a cut in leave for both genders. Sorry, but the payoff for the men is lack of morning sickness, lack of swollen feet, lack of GD, etc. They'll just have to 'make do' with the benefits they already get, in my opinion.
I think the paternal leave is great! My husband took two weeks off when our son was born, and it was helpful.
Everyone knows the US is on the list of developed countries... that's not even an argument.Originally Posted by pek64
Are you saying the US is NOT a developed country? Have you polled people in those 42 other countries?
No one said a woman gets an extra 8 weeks just because her ankles swelled! You are twisting my words. It makes sense that a person who went through something that requires healing would get more time off than someone who being granted time to bond. If you don't understand that point, I give up!
Where do you know of in the U.S. that provides full pay on maternity leave? Seriously? I was thrilled when I learned that my current job pays 60% for 4 weeks (and nothing after that), because I had never had a job that had paid ANYTHING for maternity. And I don't work in food service or for small businesses.Originally Posted by pek64
And only 55% of pay. In the US, I think most maternity leaves are at full pay. When you talk about parental leave, I think automatically you mean at full pay. Also, 6 weeks is typical, in my experience. I also heard that Canadian leave is only 48-50 weeks, split between spouses. The way it was phrased sounded like each parent could get a year off.