Finland to give dads same parental leave as mums (bbc.com)

Article summary

Finland's new government plans to give all parents the same parental leave, with a combined 14 months of paid leave. Each parent would receive 6.6 months of leave, and pregnant women would get an additional month's allowance. The goal is to promote wellbeing and gender equality. The policy is similar to those in other Nordic countries, such as Sweden and Norway.

Main themes

• Parental leave policies
• Gender equality
• Work-life balance
• Social welfare
• Business impact
• Family support
• Government benefits

What commenters say

• Some commenters think that generous parental leave policies are beneficial for employees and society, but may be challenging for small businesses to implement.
• Others argue that companies should plan for employee absences, including parental leave, and that it is a normal part of doing business.
• A few commenters express concerns that such policies could be abused by individuals having multiple children and relying on government support.
• Some argue that the focus should be on promoting gender equality and supporting families, rather than worrying about potential abuse of the system.
• Others point out that the policy is not a 'cash-for-kids' system, but rather a way to support families and promote social welfare.
• There are also discussions about the potential impact on businesses, including the need to hire temporary replacements and the potential for increased costs.
• Some commenters think that the policy could lead to a decrease in the gender salary gap and promote more equal sharing of childcare responsibilities.
• Others argue that the policy may not be effective in achieving its goals, and that there are other factors at play, such as cultural attitudes towards family and work.