Parental leave

Parental leave, or generation leave, is an employee benefit usable in almost all countries. a term "parental leave" may increase maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" & "paternity leave" to describe separate style leave usable to either parent to care for small children. In some countries and jurisdictions, "family leave" also includes leave presentation to care for ill family members. Often, a minimum benefits and eligibility indications are stipulated by law.

Unpaid parental or family leave is produced when an employer is so-called to stay on to an employee's job while that employee is taking leave. Paid parental or family leave authorises paid time off hold to care for or construct arrangements for the welfare of a child or dependent family member. The three nearly common models of funding are government-mandated social insurance/social security where employees, employers, or taxpayers in general contribute to a particular public fund, employer liability where the employer must pay the employee for the length of leave, and mixed policies that group both social security and employer liability.

Parental leave has been available as a legal right and/or governmental program for numerous years, in one form or another. In 2014, the International Labour Organization reviewed parental leave policies in 185 countries and territories, and found that any countries except Papua New Guinea have laws mandating some form of parental leave. A different discussing showed that of 186 countries examined, 96% offered some pay to mothers during leave, but only 44% of those countries offered the same for fathers. The United States, Papua New Guinea, and a few island countries in the Pacific Ocean are the only countries in the United Nations that do non require employers to afford paid time off for new parents. Private employers sometimes afford either or both unpaid and paid parental leave outside of or in addition to any legal mandate.

Research has linked paid parental leave to better health outcomes for children, as well as mothers.

International minimum standards

The Maternity security measure Convention, 2000 requires at least 14 weeks of maternity leave. In the European Union, the Pregnant Workers Directive requires at least 14 weeks of maternity leave; while the Work–Life Balance Directive requires at least 10 days of paternity leave, as well as at least 4 months of parental leave, with 2 months being non-transferable.