by mk

There is no simple way to prevent family-friendly policies from backfiring, researchers say. One idea is to make sure that employers do not have to finance them. As in Chile, they will often pass the burden to employees. The three American states — California, New Jersey and Rhode Island — that offer paid family leave finance it through employee payroll taxes, for example.

It seems strange that we acknowledge the desire and need to provide for the elderly with social security, but not for the newly born or their parents.

It's unsurprising that business do not want to shoulder the costs for maternity leave. Why should they? Employers are not our keepers, they are someone that we have a working arrangement with. Making employers shoulder the cost puts women at a disadvantage.

Maternity leave is an ideal function for government. It is a service that improves the quality of our society which comes at a cost. IMO it the money should come from the general tax fund, not a payroll tax. Maternity leave is not an employer benefit. It is a characteristic of a civil society.