Moms at Work’s Post

What's better than being a dad? How about being a dad in Sweden? 🇸🇪 It's Father's Day this weekend and there's one or two things we can learn from Sweden and how they support new fathers. Not only has it been 50 years since Sweden introduced state-funded parental leave, but there's a social expectation of dads taking leave too. 💡 Fathers in Sweden take the highest proportion of state-subsidised leave in the EU, according to recent OECD data. 💡 Only 18% of fathers who had children born in 2017 hadn't used any of their parental leave allowance https://lnkd.in/enWwNGdx

French lessons for fertility? NZ has a declining birth rate that raises issues for our ability to support a future welfare state. Maybe we need to go French and institute better policies that support the family and fertility. Did you know France is the highest spender on family benefits in the OECD? For example, family tax splitting... Surely now is the time to support families in NZ- if we are going to change our tax structures then let's do so in favour of fertility and family productivity.

Child care costs in the U.S. have now surpassed those in other developed countries. Action is needed to ease the burden on American families. Learn more in Forbes ➡ https://lnkd.in/g4yF_t44

Sweden Leads the Way: Could Croatia Be Next? I just found out about a groundbreaking move, Sweden has expanded its already progressive parental leave policies. As of July 1st, parents can now transfer up to 45 days of paid parental leave to people who are not legal guardians, including grandparents, relatives, or even friends. This reform, introduced by the Swedish government, allows more flexibility and support for families, ensuring that caregivers can share responsibilities. Sweden was the first country to introduce paid parental leave for fathers in 1974, and today, fathers take around 30% of paid leave. Now, 50 years later, grandparents and others can be paid to care for children, providing even more support to families. I hope that Croatia will adopt similar policies by the time I get my grandchildren :) I think that's extremely important because grandparents are living proof to children that unconditional love does exist. #ParentalLeave #FamilySupport #WorkLifeBalance #Sweden #Croatia

Thinking of having children while you’re in Canada? 🤰 Canada recognizes the importance of parental leave for families, and the system offers several benefits to parents of young children, including maternity leave and shared parental leave options. This support is particularly crucial for immigrant families, who represent around one-third of all families with young children in Canada. For a deep dive into maternity and parental leave in Canada, head here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gMVX8kHC #maternityleave #parentalleave #movingtocanada

We deserve a more nuanced conversation about working moms. The “motherhood penalty” is more complicated than you think. A recent European study reveals that the "motherhood penalty" may not be as severe as once thought. While Danish women initially face an earnings penalty after childbirth, their incomes recover over time, eventually surpassing those of their childless peers. However, this recovery often takes over 10 years, highlighting a significant period of economic disadvantage. The problem remains significant. Many mothers face lower wages, job instability, and fewer opportunities for advancement. The penalty varies based on factors like occupation, age at first childbirth, and cultural background. Despite some improvements over the past 50 years, the issue persists, especially in countries without supportive policies. To truly support working moms, we need comprehensive solutions. Policies like paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and encouraging fathers to take on more domestic duties can help balance the cost of parenting. Without these changes, the financial and career penalties for motherhood will continue to impact women disproportionately. Let's push for solutions that help mothers thrive both at home and in their careers. 🌟👩💼👶 #MotherhoodPenalty #WorkingMoms #GenderEquality #CareerGrowth Read more in Rachel M. Cohen’s insightful article on Vox. https://lnkd.in/dBwAiH9j

New Post: Shopping for parental benefits around the world - https://lnkd.in/geZyifQi - It is so expensive to have a kid in the United States. The U.S. is one of just a handful of countries worldwide with no federal paid parental leave; it offers functionally no public childcare (and private childcare is wildly expensive); and women can expect their pay to take a hit after becoming a parent. (Incidentally, men's wages tend to rise after becoming fathers.) But outside the U.S., many countries desperately want kids to be born inside their borders. One reason? Many countries are facing a looming problem in their population demographics: they have a ton of aging workers, fewer working-age people paying taxes, and not enough new babies being born to become future workers and taxpayers. And some countries are throwing money at the problem, offering parents generous benefits, even including straight-up cash for kids. So if the U.S. makes it very hard to have kids, but other countries are willing to pay you for having them....maybe you can see the opportunity here. Very economic, and very pregnant, host Mary Childs did. Which is why she went benefits shopping around the world. Between Sweden, Singapore, South Korea, Estonia, and Canada, who will offer her the best deal for her pregnancy?Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp

This video still holds true. Until there are changes in laws and policies that actively support mothers, celebrating Mother’s Day on a societal level feels insincere. -> Affordable childcare -> National paid parental leave -> State-level extended paid parental leave policies (6months at the minimum) -> child-friendly workplace policies These policies are not just welfare, evidence suggests there are great economic returns. Its good for business!

Actions speak louder than words...