Parental leave
Parental leave is time away from work for a parent to care for a child, often with job protection and sometimes with wage replacement.
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993: A United States federal law granting eligible workers unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. It is a major example of parental leave protected by federal law, though it does not guarantee pay.
Maternity leave: Leave associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery, typically granted to the person who gives birth. It may overlap with parental leave but is often grounded in childbirth and recovery needs.
Maternal employment: The participation of mothers in paid work, including employment and labor-force activity. Leave access and duration can influence mothers’ return to work and continued employment.
Swedish parental leave: Sweden’s national system of paid leave for parents, including individual and shareable entitlements. It illustrates a comparatively extensive system that encourages both parents to take leave.
Paid family leave: A policy providing wage replacement when workers take leave to care for family members. It addresses the income loss that can make parental leave difficult to use.
Paternity leave: Leave granted to a father or other non-birthing parent following a child’s birth or placement. It is a parent-specific form of leave, whereas parental leave can cover parents of any gender.
Gender pay gap: The difference in average earnings between women and men in a population or workforce. Unequal leave-taking and career interruptions can contribute to earnings disparities.
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan: A Quebec public insurance program providing benefits for maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption leave. It shows how a regional program can offer benefits distinct from a national system.
Job protection: Legal or contractual safeguards that preserve a worker’s position or equivalent employment during an authorized absence. It determines whether a parent can return to employment after taking leave.
Shared parental leave: A leave arrangement allowing parents to divide or transfer some eligible leave between them. It differs from separate individual entitlements by letting parents allocate leave jointly.