To think that women without children should be able to take time off work too?

[Playfair]

Firstly I will say that I am 100% supportive of good maternity leave (and paternity / shared), and understand the importance of supporting women to maintain a career, care for children or whatever else they wish.

I also acknowledge that maintaining birth rates is critical for society. And that maternity leave is spent doing work in raising a child.

Reflecting on my company's good maternity policy (about 6 months paid) and also some other institutions that have announced paid time off for those undergoing fertility treatment, it leaves me wondering about those of us without children (by choice or otherwise).

I'm in my thirties and will never have children. I'd love to have a small amount of paid time off (in addition to usual annual leave) to do some lengthy travel for example. I can't see why we can't have access to something similar if you haven't used any maternity benefit by a certain point.

There would obviously be benefits for society & business from developing new skills, morale etc. As well as women in work contributing to economy and through taxation.

So,

YABU - Women who choose not to have children shouldn't be entitled to anything else

YANBU - Women should be able to claim a small amount of extra paid time off if they stay in a career and contribute to business and societies success

you have totally missed my point. I am a a full time carer for my DH and i work full time.

This is such a ridiculous post - you're comparing apples and oranges. Go and have a gap year if that's what you're after!

@MeganCrossing *many women pay to some extent under at least one of those categories.

This^^

I think you're confusing something that women have to do in order to have a family or if they don't want to terminate, with something that anyone can choose to do just because they feel like it?

My work offer carers leave, parental leave, maternity/paternity leave, study leave and the option for a career break or unpaid leave. I think it's up to the individual to look for employment that suits their long term plans and has policies that match. Lots of workplaces also offer incentives like increased annual leave that accrues with length of service etc.

I also think that the reason for maternity leave etc is because we know that women are predominantly the ones left with the lions share of parenting responsibilities, even moreso if you are breast feeding and to allow for the physical and emotional impact of having a baby. I agree with pp who have suggested that maternity leave is more comparable with sick leave than holiday leave. You just need to look at the stories of women in for eg America where they're forced back to work while trying to establish bf, suffering from pnd, and other complications and are often forced out of the workplace altogether as a result of not being able to cope.

I'm sorry but may leave is NOT a holiday, it's time to physically recover from pregnancy and child birth x

Exactly this.

if you chose to give up your earning potential, your health and sanity etc etc in exchange for a baby, do it. Don’t be a martyr about it though. It was your choice.

I used to think like this. Then I had a baby and I realised maternity leave was needed for recovery and adapting to a small person relying on you. Even after a year (not all paid) I had only just recovered.

Although I guess if everyone takes a career break it will level the playing field a bit so there is that.

We've got a massively ageing population and actually birth rates are declining, we desperately need people to keep having babies apparently.

Replying to OP, and ignoring crass and hilarious comparison of mat leave to a long haul holiday, loads of employers offer sabbaticals these days. Why not join one and take advantage.

Yes your right, but women who have children should have this IN ADDITION to maternity leave.
I'm on maternity, I barely have time to shower let alone do anything else.

Why would my husband be allowed 12 months of paid time off too enjoy life but I get 12 months to be a full time carer to a baby who is uncapable to do literally anything. Sexist and ridiculous idea.

I'm not the poster you're replying to, but believe me, being childless because you haven't yet had children and being childless not through choice ie desperately wanting one but not being able to are two very different situations.

Being 21 and working Christmas day, not yet having children, I just shrugged my shoulders and got on with it, I wasn't overly bothered. It was different when I was 35 however after numerous miscarriages, thinking I'd never have kids and watching everyone have their Christmas day with their children while I worked every single one and everyone just assumed I'd be OK with it, because I didn't have children.

People don't seem to acknowledge the issues associated with an ageing population sadly. But it's very real.

OP, this thread is sickening. It reminds me of when my boss referred to my mat leave as 'time off' and later as 'a holiday' (I think he was trying to make a joke but it fell flat). Mat leave is for a specific purpose, as is paternity leave (and shared parental leave come to that). If you don't need it for the purpose it was created, then that's that. You sound REALLY entitled.

I don't see an issue with people being allowed sabbaticals generally, but it shouldn't only be the child-free who get that luxury 🤦‍♀️

I have a disabled DH and DC and work full time. Totally different from having a dying parent.

Many Australian workplaces have Long service leave where you get 8-12 weeks paid leave after a certain amount of continuous working for a employer.
I think this is more what your talking about, maternity leave isn’t compatible at all and very much not a holiday.

It's only on here people can be truthful about how bloody hard it can be.

Some women do sure

not all

posters claiming otherwise look a bit silly

This is true. Perhaps childless people who have remained childless throughout their working life should get a two year (for example) pension enhancement at age 60 (for example) as a thank you.

I couldn’t have children and worked full time for the best part of 40 years. It all started to seem a bit relentless and when I got the opportunity to take voluntary early retirement I bloody bit their hand off. No regrets, but if I’d had the opportunity to take time off I might have spent longer in the workplace.

I’m calling bullshit on this one

YABU. What about working mums and dads? There is no additional time off. Maternity and paternity leave is not a holiday.

Whoooosh!!!

At the end of the day, however you choose to look at this debate, everyone’s life takes a different path- sometimes due to choice and sometimes due to circumstance but that’s just how it is. It can sometimes feel unfair, especially if you look at others with different choices or circumstances to you. If we applied this attitude of ‘they’ve been entitled to something I haven’t so it needs to be made fair’ where would we ever draw the line? Maternity leave for those who haven’t had a child, sick leave for those who’ve never had a sick day?….it just doesn’t work. The OP’s sabbatical theory is good in isolation, it’s the comparison with maternity leave that’s the issue and why YABU. After all, comparison is the thief of joy

You’re not seriously comparing losing a close family member to having a child?

That's not paid for it's pro rata.

I was just about to post similar, although I didn't know the exact details. My cousin and his wife in Oz, both senior teachers in their 50s, have done this at least twice.