[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.