Alright, fellow parents and parents-to-be, brace yourselves. We’re about to take a trip around the world to explore some parental leave policies that’ll make you say, “Wait, is that for real?” Spoiler alert: You might find yourself Googling “how to become a citizen of Sweden” by the end of this!
Sweden
Let’s kick things off with the crown jewel of parental leave. Sweden offers 480 days of paid leave per child. Yes, you read that right – 480 days! And here’s the kicker – each parent gets 240 of those days. The Swedish government isn’t stingy either, paying 80% of your salary for 390 of those days. Suddenly, those sleepless nights with a newborn don’t sound so bad when you’re not worrying about rushing back to work, right?
Estonia
But hold onto your diapers, because Estonia might just give Sweden a run for its money. New moms get 140 days of fully paid pregnancy and maternity leave. After that, parents can share an additional 435 days of paid leave. That’s more than enough time to master the art of swaddling and perfect your baby food recipes!
Japan
Japan, known for its intense work culture, is making strides too. They recently extended their paid parental leave to 14 months if both parents take leave. Each parent can take up to 12 months, giving you plenty of time to figure out why your baby finds the TV remote more fascinating than any of their actual toys.