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Just as a reference point how maternity leave works in many parts of Europe, using Austria as a reference: a mother can choose between 1, 2 and 3 years of mater

Just as a reference point how maternity leave works in many parts of Europe, using Austria as a reference: a mother can choose between 1, 2 and 3 years of maternity leave. You'll get the same amount of money over the whole time, and it's covered by the health insurance, so the company doesn't have any costs. It's typical that mothers start part-time work afterwards to ease back into work life. Fathers can also take paid paternity leave, usually you can split the leave with the mother however you want, and if you do you get a few months extra. It's also typical that the father gets 3 weeks paid time off when a baby is born, to care for the family. I feel this was invaluable for me and my family. I honestly find the US system inhumane, forcing mothers back into a job so soon, and a baby so young is just a tiny, vulnerable, little human. Too early to put them into daycare in my opinion, but I understand that many parents are forced to for financial reasons. The US healthcare really needs a big overhaul.

AdrianB1 7y ago
You make it sound like there is no cost for anyone but "health insurance", but it is costing everyone including yourself: higher taxes, higher prices, lower salaries. The result is a higher cost of living. US can use the same system, factoring the cost of maternity leaves and the paternity leaves into the product prices or into reduced salaries. In the end, this is where money can be taken to cover.
- lsc 7y ago
  So, if such things lead to more productive next-generation workers, it's possible that much like education, it's a net win, even if you don't have children yourself. As someone who plans on retiring (without children of my own) - yes, I consider saving money for my own retirement to be pretty important, but I also see having people around that I can buy stuff from in my retirement as pretty important, too. I'd really like to have the benefits of an advanced economy, so I think it's worth kicking in a bit to see to it that the next generation is cared for and educated. (Of course, I have no idea how important having mom and dad around the first few weeks is vs. having access to good schools or something else entirely. Not my field. But I am saying that it is in my interest to contribute towards having an advanced, educated workforce that is... working during the years while I'm retired.)
- codeulike 7y ago
  But where to draw the line in this economic assessment? What about the cost of the stress and mental health problems for both parents and children that are caused when lots of people are not given the opportunity to look after their newborns properly? The first few months for a new family are absolutely crucial in terms of baby health and parental relationships etc.
  - AdrianB1 7y ago
    I think I was misunderstood: it is not about the economic assessment, it is about who is paying it. So far there is no good answer for that.
    - codeulike 7y ago
      My point is - who pays if you don't do it?
- metachris 7y ago
  The US is already spending almost twice the amount on healthcare per person than Austria! https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries/#item-relative-size-wealth-u-s-spends-disproportionate-amount-health https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-... * US: $10,224 * Germany: $5,728 * Austria: $5,440 The system in the US is just totally dysfunctional, and I know a complex issue. But in essence it's using a lot more money than comparable countries but the benefits don't even compare remotely.
  - AdrianB1 7y ago
    Except that being a parent is not a disease; a kid is not a sickness and it has nothing to do with healthcare. The mother recovering after giving birth is a health care matter, but that usually takes 6 weeks in most countries. I fully agree that USA has a major problem with the healthcare system, but that is a different matter.

AdrianB1 7y ago

You make it sound like there is no cost for anyone but "health insurance", but it is costing everyone including yourself: higher taxes, higher prices, lower salaries. The result is a higher cost of living. US can use the same system, factoring the cost of maternity leaves and the paternity leaves into the product prices or into reduced salaries. In the end, this is where money can be taken to cover.

lsc 7y ago
So, if such things lead to more productive next-generation workers, it's possible that much like education, it's a net win, even if you don't have children yourself. As someone who plans on retiring (without children of my own) - yes, I consider saving money for my own retirement to be pretty important, but I also see having people around that I can buy stuff from in my retirement as pretty important, too. I'd really like to have the benefits of an advanced economy, so I think it's worth kicking in a bit to see to it that the next generation is cared for and educated. (Of course, I have no idea how important having mom and dad around the first few weeks is vs. having access to good schools or something else entirely. Not my field. But I am saying that it is in my interest to contribute towards having an advanced, educated workforce that is... working during the years while I'm retired.)
codeulike 7y ago
But where to draw the line in this economic assessment? What about the cost of the stress and mental health problems for both parents and children that are caused when lots of people are not given the opportunity to look after their newborns properly? The first few months for a new family are absolutely crucial in terms of baby health and parental relationships etc.
- AdrianB1 7y ago
  I think I was misunderstood: it is not about the economic assessment, it is about who is paying it. So far there is no good answer for that.
  - codeulike 7y ago
    My point is - who pays if you don't do it?
metachris 7y ago
The US is already spending almost twice the amount on healthcare per person than Austria! https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries/#item-relative-size-wealth-u-s-spends-disproportionate-amount-health https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-... * US: $10,224 * Germany: $5,728 * Austria: $5,440 The system in the US is just totally dysfunctional, and I know a complex issue. But in essence it's using a lot more money than comparable countries but the benefits don't even compare remotely.
- AdrianB1 7y ago
  Except that being a parent is not a disease; a kid is not a sickness and it has nothing to do with healthcare. The mother recovering after giving birth is a health care matter, but that usually takes 6 weeks in most countries. I fully agree that USA has a major problem with the healthcare system, but that is a different matter.