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

I used to think like this

Then i had a child

Then i realised: work is easier than mat leave

One of the most ridiculous suggestions I have ever heard!

What happens if you are given time off to travel and then fall pregnant? Does that mean you do not get maternity leave? Madness!

Considering multiple maternity leaves are a thing your post is equally ridiculous

You do realise it's not actually time off? You work harder than when in work!
Also from that point on your annual leave is never your own, always used for childcare/child sickness.
And why only women. By your reasoning men should get this too or it's sexist. Almost like an annual type of leave?!

Because what you are talking about - a (mostly) paid sabbatical, (and I don’t mean to care for a loved one) is solely about doing things for you, ventures for the benefit of yourself, whether you’re travelling, starting up a new business, whatever. On maternity leave, it’s entirely the opposite, you inevitably end up sacrificing yourself (sleeping, eating, social life) to care for your baby. And yes it’s your decision to do that, but it’s still not about you anymore it’s about the baby.

MandalayFray You think taking 6 months off to travel because you do not want children is not ridiculous? The country is in enough mess at the moment, that idea would really help it to recover….NOT!

Maternity leave is not a holiday or a “break from work”, it’s just different, usually harder work.

This!

Do you mean you don't understand why the leave shouldn't be taken while someone is still of childbearing age? And what if someone feels that children aren't important to them so doesn't "earmark" leave for that purpose but then has children later anyway?. Do they just go back to work the day after giving birth because they haven't got leave left? Do you think that is safe for the mother and who would look after the child?

We could fill all future labour needs with immigrants, you know. And only a percentage of today's children will be paying anyone's pension; many of them will be drains on society instead. Take a look around.

Yes I think so, even if just being able to be used once. I do feel for women who can’t have children who never get a chance to live a little away from work. And not the 2 weeks annual leave everyone qualifies for.

I had my children later in life; and although maternity wasn’t a holiday it was certainly a lot better than my stressful job, and I enjoyed every moment!

I think one day, this will be the norm, although maternity can be taken as many times as you want, if people are childless maybe it would be a one time only when you’re past child rearing age?

for any complainers, it may level the playing field when comes to employing child bearing age women.

I am on the older end of the people that work where I do. I kind of feel the same way because the younger employees get 12 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave, a separate, decorated, very comfortable place to pump or breastfeed and other perks that the parents of my age were never allowed. I absolutely do not begrudge them these perfectly reasonable accommodations but just because I am no longer fertile does that mean there are no perks the older workers could possibly get?

I just got the usual maternity pay...no extras from.most normal businesses! It was hard. We still shell out loads for childcare...up to 50% of my take home money and I realise we are lucky!
Before I had kids I had some unpaid leave to go travelling for a bit ...on top of my usual annual leave. i would have never expected my employer to fund this and was grateful for unpaid leave.

YABU.
you have paid leave
you can organise a sabbatical
Having a baby or having infertility treatment is not equivalent to backpacking or reenacting eat pray love.
for that, everyone has to save up and either quit or negotiate with your employer.

What nonsense. I don't have kids but I work fulltime, run a small business on the side, do eldercare, volunteer and do a lot of sustainable, environmentally friendly gardening, all of which benefit society/my community.

Whereas I know plenty of parents who laze around watching television and don't do any pro-social activities. Please stop with the refrain that parents are somehow busier, more noble and more deserving.

That was your choice. You could equally have chosen otherwise. Don’t blame it on women who didn’t have children, whether by choice or otherwise.

Cancer patient here... I don't have loads of sick leave, mostly because I work for a small company who only pays statutory sick pay, so i work around my appointments and if i feel rubbish, well i juat go get on with it. Its stage 4, im not going to recover or be cured. I wouldn't wish sick leave on anyone, it's hardly a comparison to anything and most of the time you're in bed and can't just go and do as you please as I expect you think you could.

While I don't think it should be a lengthy amount of time off I do actually agree that there should be some perks. Those without children are the ones picking up the slack for those on maternity leave, yet get no recognition or thanks for doing so - just extra work for no extra pay!

I agree, you should get some extra leave for choosing to not have a child. Then you should come back to work part time, let your worl "forget" to give you the payrise all your colleagues got and have to chase it for 6 months. Maybe even ring ACAS a few times. Get less holidays than everyone else, get less wage because you're working less hours, make sure you can't really afford your food shop this month. Get passed over for a few promotions because you have to take the odd day off here and there again afterwards, because this is time you would have taken off for your child being sick. Watch child free people are you get promoted ahead of you. Use all your annual leave for someone else being sick, because you can't afford unpaid leave.

Working after having kids is fucking brilliant, as you can see.

This reminds me of a company I worked at years ago where people added their sick time allowance to their holidays.

So should you get a payout from disability if you're not disabled just to make it fair? Should people who don't use the loo, take cigarette breaks, attend funerals of loved ones get the same 'allowance'.

Take your 'non-maternity ' leave but have an alarm go off constantly day & night and tell us how much you enjoyed your 'holiday'. I haven't even mentioned the sore bits.

Sabbatical leave, is paid leave. In the company I work for which has basic Maternity leave, sabbatical leave is available to all, once you have worked 5 years. I would think your company would have something like that.

@KimberleyClark missed my sarcasm didn't you? It's NOT an either or situation is it? We don't get to say "Oh hang on, I'll keep my eggs and take the money to visit Japan!" It's not money to allow us to have a six month holiday, it's to allow us 6 months to recover from the exertion of pregnancy and to bond with the next generation as it's been proven that it benefits babies massively. A childless person can jet off whenever they like so why should the tax payer fund it? If I want to jet off, I'll pay just like anyone else should

People who have cancer have loads of sick leave. I don't have cancer but hey, I'd love to have some leave too !

What a ridiculous comment. Do you really think that all people with cancer get paid by their employer for all the time they have off? Also, many with cancer drag themselves to work throughout their treatment. You are an idiot.

I think that as the world becomes more overpopulated, people are getting fed up with the entitled attitude that childbearing is somehow more deserving than other lifestyle choices.

It's a big-ticket expense that can be planned for and saved up for, if one wants it badly enough, just like all others. Including funds to cover unpaid time out of the workforce.

Not bearing children, in the current climate, is just as pro-social or perhaps more so than choosing to bear children. I predict that taxpayer and employer supported perks and accommodations will be on the wane. There's just no need ot offer them when a huge swath of prospective workers who don't need them is available.

YABVU to think that mat leave is in any way a holiday. Plus most places allow sabbaticals and career breaks these days either formally or informally. But no one actually gets paid to go on a 6 month holiday!

Choosing to not have a baby is also a choice, OP. So if you want maternity leave, you’ll need to make a different choice.

Of course you don’t deserve a holiday because “it’s the same”. That’s what your holiday entitlement is literally for.