[todd_whitehead]

I largely agree now -- in fact I think that women and men (since it's the 21st century and all types of people go on maternity leave) should be able to go on paid maternity leave. The leave will be funded by all corporations for social good -- no point in limiting it to the one the person worked for, since a person on maternity leave contributes equally to all of them. Paid maternity leave is a human right, like clean drinking water and fast internet, and I demand corporations provide us with it!

[geographomics]

Most developed countries (the USA being the most notable exception) have some form of paid paternity leave as well, ranging from just a few days, to the same level as maternity leave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave

Where the state provides some or all of the financial assistance for parental leave, one could argue that it is already funded by all corporations, as it would be derived from tax income.

[Frondo]

Agreed, everyone who decides to parent a child should get some time off to help raise that child. It would strengthen society.

(And if every company were obligated to provide it, none would have a short-sighted competitive advantage over those who chose not to provide it.)

[aianus]

Why should the company provide maternity benefits and not the state? I don't think it's fair for some three person startup to go bankrupt because employee #1 got pregnant and continues to draw down salary while staying home.

[beagle3]

Indeed, the European standard is that it is paid by the state, rather than the employers.

[littletimmy]

I think you're being sarcastic but if not, I agree with you.