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Is there such a thing as too much parental leave?
Done the wrong way, it can have awkward effects.
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When it comes to maternity leave, the economic benefits do seem to have a limit.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Soumaya Keynes
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Decades ago, I might have been sacked for being pregnant, or seen my pay crash to zero after giving birth. These days (mostly through the Financial Times) I get job protection, a generous chunk of maternity leave at full pay and even a coach to ease my return to work. In general, I am in favour of policies to support those of us who nobly breed future taxpayers. But is it possible to go too far?
At first, the point of parental leave was to protect the health of mother and baby. Childbirth warrants some recovery time, and though communication isn’t my toddler’s strong suit, I think he appreciated the home rest too. More recently, expanded benefits for parents have been seen as a way to promote gender equality or even boost the birth rate. By pulling men on to more nappy duty, paternity leave could even out the load of child-rearing.
