Maternity leave 12 weeks U.S. 1 yr. in Canada

[Sealy]

Just wanted to confirm! I have a Canadian friend who is living in the states right now and is ready to give birth at anytime! I thought she told me mat. leave was 6 weeks. If so does that not bother anyone? We get 1 yr. in Canada. I could'nt imagine having to go back to work after 6 weeks! I was'nt even fully "recuperated" by then! Then if you were planning on staying home when your 6 weeks is up what are you suppose to do financially?

Just wondering?🙂

 

[tm37]

I agree everyone should pay so people can stay home and raise there kids

It was UPTO 6 weeks in California and the same in MN but My wife went back to work after 5 weeks(she works part time)

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: tm37
I agree everyone should pay so people can stay home and raise there kids

It was UPTO 6 weeks in California and the same in MN but My wife went back to work after 5 weeks(she works part time)

Did she want to go back after 5 weeks?

 

[Mister T]

so in canada, you can live for free if you decide to have a baby once every year?

 

[blakeatwork]

no... you don't get paid, but you don't lose your job either..

 

[FoBoT]

the federal law is 12 weeks (employer policies and state laws might be more generous)

it has only been 12 weeks since 1993

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Synopsis of Law
Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:

for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;
for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;
to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.

i think the law is very generous, if clinton hadn't gotten elected in '92 , it would never have been passed

 

[Ornery]

Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason.

We waited 7 years before having our first. My wife quit work for the next 11 years. Second one was born five years after the first. We had to do without new cars and a huge house, but my wife raised them rather than an aunt, grandparent, nanny, day care or what ever. That's gotta be worth something!

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: Mister T
so in canada, you can live for free if you decide to have a baby once every year?

No not for free, you get allotted 60% of your income and you can decide who gets to use it mom or dad. Or you can each have 6 months. As far as I'm concerned it's a very important time to spend with your child and I'm glad our government realizes that.

 

[FoBoT]

gotta love those socialist policies

 

[hagbard]

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: Mister T
so in canada, you can live for free if you decide to have a baby once every year?

No not for free, you get allotted 60% of your income and you can decide who gets to use it mom or dad. Or you can each have 6 months. As far as I'm concerned it's a very important time to spend with your child and I'm glad our government realizes that.

That, of course, only works if you're an employee. My wife and I are self-employed. We had to save up before having a child so my wife could return to work in six weeks to support those who get a year of holidays :disgust:

 

"Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason."

I commend you, Ornery. I share that view too. Nothing wrong with people who choose to have a career, but I salute those who sacrifice their careers for one parent to stay home.

That said, what's with men here shooting their mouths and being the biggest critics about women having a 1 year leave of absence at Canada? Until you actually can carry babies or are a physician who specialises in this field, you aren't yet a qualified authority to shoot your mouths. Your money isn't being taken to pay people on leaves. The businesses hire a people to temporarily take the position of the pregnant women on leaves. The women aren't paid for that whole period.

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason.

We waited 7 years before having our first. My wife quit work for the next 11 years. Second one was born five years after the first. We had to do without new cars and a huge house, but my wife raised them rather than an aunt, grandparent, nanny, day care or what ever. That's gotta be worth something!

Absolutely! I agree completely! But unfortunately not everyone fits nicely into that perfect little world! There are single moms and dads and low income families who need an income coming in. I am planning on going back to work for 1 and 1/2 days come March when my baby is 1yr. During that time Alex will be looked after by his dad. Definitely a pay cut come March but worth it! Btw we also waited for 7 yrs. and we still were'nt ready but you learn to deal!🙂

 

[Ornery]

"My wife and I are self-employed."

Hah! You're evil capitalists! No wonder your government isn't concerned about that very important time to spend with your child! Bet they don't have any qualms about socking you with taxes though, eh?

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: hagbard

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: Mister T
so in canada, you can live for free if you decide to have a baby once every year?

No not for free, you get allotted 60% of your income and you can decide who gets to use it mom or dad. Or you can each have 6 months. As far as I'm concerned it's a very important time to spend with your child and I'm glad our government realizes that.

That, of course, only works if you're an employee. My wife and I are self-employed. We had to save up before having a child so my wife could return to work in six weeks to support those who get a year of holidays :disgust:

Trust me it's not a holiday! And I also paid into those insurances for 20 yrs. without taking any form of employment insurance, therefore paying for everyone else to be on it. I think I've paid my dues. I do agree there should be some compensation for business owners. My fiance is self employed so he gets nothing from the government!

 

[Mustangrrl]

Originally posted by: tm37
I agree everyone should pay so people can stay home and raise there kids

This leave that women take is comprised of their sick pay, their annual leave, and leave without pay -- but it's time THEY earned by working, it has nothing to do with "everyone" paying anything... you should know the facts if you're going to be snide about something.

The only perk is that they can't lose their job because they gave birth. But honestly, if an employer didn't get someone to cover that woman's shift in the several months advance notice they received, then that's their own fault.

And before anyone mentions it, women are in physical trauma when they give birth, that's why they need the time to recuperate, so please don't try to say "well why can't men have time off too!" Dad spends time with the baby when he gets home from work, but mom needs to stay home so her body can heal.
~robyn

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Sealy
Just wanted to confirm! I have a Canadian friend who is living in the states right now and is ready to give birth at anytime! I thought she told me mat. leave was 6 weeks. If so does that not bother anyone? We get 1 yr. in Canada. I could'nt imagine having to go back to work after 6 weeks! I was'nt even fully "recuperated" by then! Then if you were planning on staying home when your 6 weeks is up what are you suppose to do financially?

Just wondering?🙂

As a nurse, if I manage to save up enough time (will take years!), I will get 6 weeks. If I take a leave of absence, they can only hold my position for three months...pathetic eh?

EDIT: Baby needs breastmilk...12 weeks is not enough unless you plan to pump like crazy at work for the baby...actually, don't get me started on the whole thing!

 

[erikistired]

my wife just went back yesterday (the monkey got to go to work with daddy! yay!) after six weeks. basically she'll be working from home 3 days a week and take our daughter in with her the other two days. luckily her office is okay with this else one of us would be quitting (and might be still, we won't do daycare). we're also looking at possibly buying our own business so that one of us can more easily be with the baby, whether it be at home or work.

six weeks really isn't enough, but that's what her company was willing to pay for (in full too, which was nice).

~erik

 

[Sealy]

So I guess the biggest difference is between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to Mat. leave is:
U.S., company's pay for the mother's mat leave. And it's only for 12 weeks.
Canada, the government pays and the mom or dad get 1 yr. or both for 6mo. each.

I'm definitely happy with what I got!

 

[hagbard]

Originally posted by: luvly
"Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason."

I commend you, Ornery. I share that view too. Nothing wrong with people who choose to have a career, but I salute those who sacrifice their careers for one parent to stay home.

That said, what's with men here shooting their mouths and being the biggest critics about women having a 1 year leave of absence at Canada? Until you actually can carry babies or are a physician who specialises in this field, you aren't yet a qualified authority to shoot your mouths. Your money isn't being taken to pay people on leaves. The businesses hire a people to temporarily take the position of the pregnant women on leaves. The women aren't paid for that whole period.

I should point out that I am a stay-at-home dad, and my wife is a maturnity physician. Does that qualify?

 

[hagbard]

Originally posted by: Sealy
So I guess the biggest difference is between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to Mat. leave is:
U.S., company's pay for the mother's mat leave. And it's only for 12 weeks.
Canada, the government pays and the mom or dad get 1 yr. or both for 6mo. each.

I'm definitely happy with what I got!

The government doesn't pay, the taxpayer pays. And the taxpayer includes those who don't have kids and those who do but don't get maternity leave from the government.

 

"I should point out that I am a stay-at-home dad, and my wife is a maturnity physician. Does that qualify?"

I have reasons to question your claim. Do you have any way of proving your claim? If you can establish it with at least one evidence, I would then without a problem give consideration to your argument on the subject.

Hearing guys spout some crap on this subject as if they're qualified authorities just deserves a slap. But I have no problem if they establish credibility and qualification.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason.

We waited 7 years before having our first. My wife quit work for the next 11 years. Second one was born five years after the first. We had to do without new cars and a huge house, but my wife raised them rather than an aunt, grandparent, nanny, day care or what ever. That's gotta be worth something!

It would be worth alot in my book....or at least until they become know it all teenagers

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: hagbard

Originally posted by: Sealy
So I guess the biggest difference is between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to Mat. leave is:
U.S., company's pay for the mother's mat leave. And it's only for 12 weeks.
Canada, the government pays and the mom or dad get 1 yr. or both for 6mo. each.

I'm definitely happy with what I got!

The government doesn't pay, the taxpayer pays. And the taxpayer includes those who don't have kids and those who do but don't get maternity leave from the government.

Yes obviously hagbard, I realize that the only way the government gets any money is from the tax payers. But unfortunately we can't pick and choose what our taxes go for. I'm not complaining because my money goes to welfare, employment insurance, public schools etc... Theses things have to exist, and the government has to get the money from somewhere! My child is not going to go to a public school, he will be put into a private school, but I don't mind my taxes going to help those children who do have to go to public schools.

Another thing. Are you from Canada or the US? In Canada, people pay into Employment insurance. This insurance is what pays for maternity leave which has a maximum payout of $700 every two weeks (it can be much lower due to income). No mother is getting rich of this. For hagbard, if you live in Canada, you are NOT paying into EI because you ARE a business owner (self-employed). This means you are not paying for the people who have the most important job in the world.....OUR MOTHERS!!! If you live in America, I do not know how your system works but if your tax dollars do help mothers with new babies, that is at least one thing where your tax dollars are well spent. My $0.02.

 

[Sealy]

bump

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Guess I'm qualified to answer this, since I live in the states and successfully fathered two children. Here's a thought. Why not get married, get on your feet, then one of the parents can quit work to raise the child? Sounds like a plan, no? Of course that will mean living within a budget and keeping overhead within reason.

We waited 7 years before having our first. My wife quit work for the next 11 years. Second one was born five years after the first. We had to do without new cars and a huge house, but my wife raised them rather than an aunt, grandparent, nanny, day care or what ever. That's gotta be worth something!

My parents did the same thing, and I'm happy that they did.