[allannienhuis]

The expected benefit for those that don't use the leave themselves is a more stable and healthy society due to better child care and stronger social/family bonds. Overall lower (net) salaries is a trade-off that most societies in the world are willing to make. Mandating it is a means of mitigating the tragedy of the commons - people thinking that there is no benefit to them at all when they don't get the benefit directly.