[morsch]

I live in France, and as of July 2021, the law allows for 25 days of paternity leave.

Wow, I had no idea; that's awful. In Germany parents share 14 months at two thirds of their average salary (capped at 1800 EUR each, though). Moms get another 6 weeks before their due date. You're also entitled to more time, unpaid.

[ecaradec]

Actually there is two type of leave: Paternity leave and parental education leave. Paternity leave is 25 days for each parent with full pay usually. Parental education leave is up to 3 years with lower pay (500€/month ? but there may be some complements here and there )

[morsch]

Thanks, that sounds much more reasonable. I found some details here: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2280/p...

[Amezarak]

It’s somehow a very German solution to make the parents share the leave, making spending time with the baby a non renewable resource that directly deprives the other parent.

[morsch]

So you're saying 7 months each that cannot be shared would be preferable? Not to mention that you are legally entitled to additional unpaid leave (years, if you want).

Such a weird way to construe a relatively generous and beloved solution.

[Amezarak]

No, 14 months for each parent would be better. ;)

When I say it's a very German solution, I mean that there is often something in German laws, regulations, policies, and sometimes norms were a kind of...social? element or awareness seems to be missing or lessened, and there's a stronger emphasis on the rule-in-itself or, in this case, the benefit. Certainly this policy may or may not be exclusive to Germany. But it sets off that feeling.

It's my sense that a more prosocial policy wouldn't put two stressed parents of a newborn in a situation where parents have to debate with each other, or even think about, who gets how much leave, and then know that them taking 8 months is the reason the other parent could take only 6 months.

As for beloved, well, everyone loves benefits they're entitled to, and I support parental leave benefits, but the German birthrate indicates this policy isn't motivating much behavior. "We" should be looking more closely at what we can do to create healthier social environments beyond just offering people money. This has the knock-on effect of making happier, healthier kids.

[morsch]

It's my sense that a more prosocial policy wouldn't put two stressed parents ..., and then know that them taking 8 months is the reason the other parent could take only 6 months.

People usually figure this out months in advance. Nobody I've talked to seemed to find divying parental leave particularly stressful. Maybe your experiences are different.

I still don't see what alternative you're proposing regarding parental leave other than having a fixed allocation.

I'd be open to less flexibility, mostly because it'd get more dads to take more than the current "minimum" of two months (leaving twelve months to the mom). I don't think that's a very popular (and politically viable) position, though.

[viraptor]

> capped at 1800 EUR each

Is that a cap per week or per month?

[mattimatti]

month. Generally salaries and such payments in Germany are per month.