IIRC, Norway pays for most sick leave and maternity/paternity leave through taxes. For sick leave, I think the employer pays for a small amount (a week or two),

IIRC, Norway pays for most sick leave and maternity/paternity leave through taxes. For sick leave, I think the employer pays for a small amount (a week or two), then it shifts. (Am an immigrant, and could be misunderstanding). Vacations are kind of a tax too: They take a portion of your income, and give it to you in June of the next year. Not everything has to make things rough on the employer. Though, to be fair, if people and companies are taxed fairly, the richest people and companies would still be paying a larger share simply because they can afford to do so without slipping into despair.