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

For everyone saying you don’t get the leave to look after sick or elderly relatives etc I completely agree with you and there should be some kind of paid carer’s leave available.

but getting free holiday to travel and do whatever the chuff you like because you’ve chosen to not have kids? Love literally every holiday you have IS a holiday - once you have kids (yes a choice too) you don’t even get a sodding proper holiday for 16 years

Fair enough. I see what you mean now.

I took six months off when I was 37! ( on paper I did a masters but that only took a few hours a week)

Best thing I ever did. I was bored by week four and travelled every three weeks overseas on short breaks.

more than ready to head back to work afterwards although I wouldn’t mind a few months off again in a few years. Time to start saving again.

I literally hate you 😂

YANU to want more holiday or sabbaticals
for yourself and others. Life is for the living

YABVU to relate this to maternity leave. Its rather offensive.

Do you think that's maybe because it's really difficult returning rather than because maternity leave was such a breeze? Leaving your child with strangers to return to work? Having to pump quietly in the middle of the work day and hoping you don't leak through your uniform? Still dealing with pelvic floor issues and trying to hold things together after the 6th sleepless night in a row? Coming back and feeling like you're starting a brand new job again and feeling worried that your replacement might have done a better job than you or that your company will now see you as less valuable? Dealing with trying to juggle childcare, school drops and getting to work on time. Panicking about what to do when childcare falls through or your kid is sick. Continued pelvis/hip/back issues or post natal depression? Yes... it must be because they had such a wonderful time. Its easier to do well at your job when it's what you're dedicated to and you have the freedom to focus on it. I'm about to go off on maternity and I'm already nervous about the idea of returning.

Yo

I cannot remotely see how it would work but I totally get where you are coming from OP, I think it would just be too difficult to implement but I do agree that something similar should be an option (not government funded).

It's quite sad to see how many women on this thread don't look back on their mat leave with fond memories, the first bit was a bit of a haze but after we found our groove it was lovely, nappies, recovery and all! It's not a 'holiday' no, and the pay is shite but we just tried to make the most of that time I might never have again.

Yes I’m absolutely aware that it’s not ‘always’ a choice.

but the vast majority of women posting on this thread made a choice and are now complaining about how hard done by they are.

You won’t get any sympathy or understanding on here but where I agree with you is the disparity between how employees with illness and employees who’re pregnant are treated.

I’ve been working reduced hours for two months whilst undergoing severe trauma therapy and being pressured to increase my hours and return to FT because of resourcing issues. I can’t have kids so this is the only time I’ll likely be off for a period of longer than 2 weeks, in my entire working life. Meanwhile three members of my team are taking a year off (6 months full pay, 3 months half pay) with no pressure whatsoever, two of them for the third time in 5 years. I do find that very difficult to stomach.

on the other hand- from my six month sabbatical, two years later I had a baby and took seven weeks maternity leave and straight back full time.

take the time if you want it.

@MeganCrossing the clue is quite literally in the actual name of the website...
it is generally a website for parents. I stated in my post that I'm aware there are posts and topics outside of parenting but if you go look at the method statements of the site or of any description it will tell you it's a forum for parents to discuss parenting...

Why go on MUMSnet to essentially tell people their maternity leave was a lovely holiday that everyone should be entitled to.

I'd much rather my job than a measly £600 a month to try live off.

But that's a choice. Many of the things that childfree people do are constructive and contribute to the economy, to the benefit of society, to the environment.

If one finds having children to be an endless slog, don't do it. And disabuse oneself of the notion that childfree people are on an endless round of carefree days. We do caregiving, have responsibilities, and our share of life's woes, too.

All workers should receive paid leave to nurture their lifestyle choices, whatever they may be.

YABU

Surely men would have the same claim. Most employers are not so generous and many women only get statutory pay which is certainly not very generous at all.

The Op made it quite clear she was referring to enhanced maternity leave, so your £600 a month comment is moot.

And the OP also didn’t come on here and say people that maternity leave was a holiday. But it is an extended period of time off which some companies pay enhanced leave for, thus childless people working said workplaces often don’t benefit.

Well then you don’t agree. Because that’s not what the original post says. It says they want to go travelling.

I don’t understand the ‘choice’ thing that keeps being mentioned.
If having a child is a choice, not having child is also a choice to the same extent ie sometimes it isn’t.
But if women with children have made their choice then so have you?

I agree. Very unfair to single out women on maternity leave. Women fought hard for reproductive rights and it isn't right to equate it to going on a holiday.

If you were given part of your salary and year off "just because", then men would also be entitled it. What would happen if you took your "holiday" and then had a baby later on? I'm picturing a scenario where women in their early twenties take the year out and then take maternity leaves in their thirties. What a fiasco that would be. The discrimination that women would face in the work place would be really tough to handle.

See if you could take a sebatical from work if you want extended time off

@MeganCrossing oh is travelling not considered a holiday then? 🙃

For what it's worth I'm all in favour of the universal basic income which I think would allow anyone the choice to take a break when they want to. But that's not the point of this thread, is it? Instead it's all about pitting women against each other.

@MeganCrossing because that’s the whole premise of the OPs hypothetical set up - this paid time off is in lieu of maternity leave, not in addition. And even if it wasn’t, that’s just another bit that doesn’t add up. How many lots can you take? And if you can take maternity leave after, can you not take maternity leave before? But I think that all kind of diminishes the point.

Correct!

What are you on about now.

If you have maternity leave do you forego any leave for a dying parent?
If your parent dies suddenly what happens?
You only have one child, do you have to pick a parent to nurse?
What if they need nursing for years?
What if you’d are estranged from your parents?
What if your parents die before you begin employment?

Just because you don’t get something doesn’t mean that you’re entitled to or losing out. Do you want a rebate of your taxes if you don’t call the police in a year or if someone sends their child to private school? You could get your money’s worth and adopt a child or foster and they’ll pay you.
YABU.

What about those of us who had our children when the maternity leave and pay was much less generous than now?