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Is there a hidden side to maternity leave (in the UK and elsewhere)?

By Michael Fitzgibbon

The Times Online has an article that discusses some of the hidden issues associated with maternity leave under UK legislation.  The article, Paid maternity leave does us no favours either, say fathers, starts off with the following:

A benefit that enriches family life or a burden that sabotages women?s careers? Nicola Brewer?s claim that the extension of maternity leave and parental rights has hampered women?s employment chances has drawn praise and criticism in equal measure.

In addition, according to the article, new legislation that allows mothers to transfer the last 6 months of their maternity leave to their partner "would be ?completely useless? unless fathers were given more support and better incentives to take time off work."

The Times Online has had a series of articles on this topic over the past short while:

5 reasons why exclusive maternity leave is bad for women

Equality laws ?are now holding women back?

Maternity leave: 'I was a grateful beneficiary, but the pendulum has swung'

Returning to work after maternity leave is not easy

From what I understand of the UK legislation, the law is quite different in Canada where maternity and parental leave are available under employment standards legislation along with employment insurance benefits.  Nonetheless, the articles provide some interesting information. 

Full post as published by Thoughts from a Management Lawyer on July 15, 2008 (boomark / email).