Column: U.S. needs paid family leave

• The Swedish government provides a total of 13 months of shared paid leave for parents.
• This policy helps to reduce gender-specific expectations related to the impact of parenting on careers.
• Most developed countries have mandatory paid parental leave. The United States does not.

While traveling through Sweden a few years ago, I was struck by the large number of solo fathers pushing their babies in strollers or accompanying their young children in parks and cafes. Inquiry into just why this was the case revealed that this was due, at least in part, to Sweden's generous and interesting parental leave policy, which gives new parents significant paid leave from work and encourages gender equity in the workplace and at home.

The Swedish government provides a total of 13 months of shared paid leave for parents, paying them 80% of their salaries, up to a limit. However, to make use of the full 13 months, this time must be split between the parents, with each taking at least two months off from work. No one is forced to take time off, but in order to make use of the entire allotment of offered paid leave each parent must use some of the time.

By allowing and encouraging both parents to participate fully in child care responsibilities early on, this policy helps to reduce gender-specific expectations related to the impact of parenting on careers, and reduces stigmas attached to women in the workplace. Primary early parenting duties are less likely to be seen as the sole responsibility of mothers by default, and instead are understood to be a shared responsibility for couples. A career interruption due to childbirth ceases to be something expected only from women.

Most developed countries have mandatory paid parental leave. The United States does not, though some states do provide for some paid maternity leave. People working for larger companies are only entitled, under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. New parents face a difficult and costly situation, with limited time and money to care for newborns. Despite much popular rhetoric about the importance of children and families, our policies make it very difficult for people to have them without putting their careers and finances at risk. We should remedy this by establishing our own national paid parental leave program.

Such a program would not be free, of course, but it would be affordable. Sweden's leave program is estimated to cost just 0.8% of its GDP, a small price to pay for a widespread benefit for families. This is not a selfish proposal; I do not have any children and would be unlikely to benefit directly from any of this.

Parenting is not a universal choice. Some people choose to remain childless, and some couples discover that they are unable to conceive. But it is a standard part of the life path for many. People should not be forced to choose between their careers and their family life, and women should not face unfair workplace treatment due to expectations about how pregnancy and childbirth might impact their commitment to their jobs. Parenting should be understood to be standard part of life for many people, regardless of gender, and workplace allowances should be made for that. A generous parental leave program aimed at all parents is an excellent way to achieve these goals.

Duncan Black writes the blogEschatonunder the pseudonym of Atrios and is a fellow at Media Matters for America. He holds a doctorate in economics.

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