Are you a new mom looking for the best maternity leave policies?
Having a baby is an exciting, but also a nerve-racking time in a woman’s life. That’s why having access to the best maternity leave policies is important. Not only will it allow you to spend more time with your newborn, but it will ensure you don’t fall into debt while on leave.
We want to help you make an informed decision. Below, you’ll find a few countries that we feel offer the best maternity leave policies. Keep reading!
1. Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of the countries with the best maternity leave policies in the world. Mothers in Bulgaria get a year of paid leave, and they also receive a monthly stipend during their leave. This allows mothers to spend time with their new babies without having to worry about financial stress.
Bulgarian mothers get 410 days of paid leave at 100% of their salary. They can start their leave up to two weeks before the expected date of childbirth, and must take at least four weeks after the child is born. Fathers are also entitled to 10 days of paid paternity leave.
Additionally, Bulgaria provides free healthcare to mothers and children. This is another important benefit for families. Overall, Bulgaria’s maternity leave policies are very generous and offer a lot of support to new families.
2. Norway
Norway has some of the best maternity leave policies in the world. Mothers get up to 52 weeks of paid leave, with 34 weeks at 100% pay, and the remaining 18 weeks at 80% pay. Fathers are also entitled to 10 weeks of paid leave.
In addition, parents have the option to extend their leave by 26 weeks, although this is unpaid. Norway also has a generous parental leave policy, which allows parents to share up to 46 weeks of leave between them.
This policy encourages fathers to take an active role in parenting and promotes gender equality.
3. Greece
Greece has one of the best maternity leave policies in the world. Mothers get 18 weeks of paid leave, with extra 18 weeks of unpaid leave if they so wish.
Fathers also get 6 weeks of paid leave. They can take this leave either before or after the birth of the child. Also, they can take it in one continuous block or split it into two separate periods.
Greece also has a very generous parental leave policy, which allows parents to take up to a year off work to care for their children. There is also a parental leave policy, which allows both parents to take up to 40 days of leave per year to care for their children. They can take this leave until the child is 18 years old.
This policy is very beneficial for families. It allows them to spend more time together and bond with their children.
4. United Kingdom
While the United Kingdom may not have the longest or most generous maternity leave policies, it does have some of the best.
Mothers get up to 52 weeks of leave, with 39 of those weeks being paid. They can take the leave all at once or split it into two phases, with the second phase starting no later than four weeks before the baby is due.
The UK also has great policies in place for fathers, who get up to 2 weeks of paid leave. This is a huge step forward in terms of gender equality and shows that the UK is committed to supporting families.
These policies have led to a decrease in the number of mothers returning to work early. It has also resulted in more bonding time between parent and child.
5. Slovakia
Slovakia offers mothers up to four months of paid leave at 100% of their salary before the baby is born. They can also take up to 3 months off after the baby is born. Fathers are also entitled to 2 weeks of paid leave.
Parents can also take advantage of flexible working arrangements, including part-time and job-sharing. They are also entitled to 2 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick child.
6. Croatia
Croatia’s maternity leave policies are amongst the best in the world. Mothers get 140 days of paid leave, with an additional 60 days for those who have given birth to twins or triplets.
Mothers are also entitled to an additional 30 days of paid leave if they have been employed for less than a year. They can take paid leave for up to eight weeks before the expected date of childbirth.
Fathers are also entitled to up to 60 days of paid leave. They can take this either before or after the birth of their child. This policy is great for families as it allows them to spend time bonding with their new baby without having to worry about financial hardship.
7. Chile
Chile is one of the countries with the best maternity leave policies. Mothers are eligible for up to 18 weeks of paid leave, and an additional 18 weeks of unpaid leave. This is far higher than the global average of 14 weeks of paid leave.
Chile’s policy is particularly generous when compared to the United States, which offers just 12 weeks of unpaid leave. In Chile, fathers are also eligible for up to 6 weeks of paid leave. This leave can be taken either all at once or broken up into 3 chunks for a year.
8. United States
The United States ranks among the worst countries in the world for paid maternity leave, with the average new mother getting only 10 weeks of paid leave.
The United States is the only industrialized country that does not guarantee paid maternity leave for new mothers. Some states have enacted their own paid leave policies, but the United States as a whole lags behind most of the world when it comes to this important benefit.
So, if you want to know more about paternity and maternity leave in California, you can check out Finvisor’s guide to parental leave.
Which Countries Do You Think Have the Best Maternity Leave Policies?
Overall, it is clear that different countries have vastly different policies when it comes to maternity leave. Some countries offer very little in the way of paid leave, while others offer up to a year of paid leave.
It is important to research the maternity leave policies of different countries before deciding to move there.
For more information that can help you out, visit our blog today!