Aa
Maternity Leave.
Ok, so I know this has been talked about a MILLION times, but I am curious how maternity leave works for each person on this board. Where do you live, what is your companies policy, paid or unpaid,& duration? This sparked my interest through another post I read, so I decided to start a new post to ask instead of hijacking someone else's post. This doesn't apply to me, I am not currently pregnant. But I am SUPER curious for feedback. Thanks all! Hope everyone is well!
Wow.. I guess the long of the short of it is in the USA, we cannot afford to have this available, we already have an overburdened welfare system, and I personally would never be that comfortable relying on the US government to take care of MY family. It's not their responsibility.. Plus, as someone mentioned, the USA spends a HUGE amount of tax dollars on our military, which is a necessity.. Pro-creating is a choice, and honestly, A LOT of women having children shouldn't.. Point blank.. Our country is overpopulated anyway and I guess my personal opinion stands as it isnt the governments job to take care of people. We are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and people flock here to "earn a better life." NOT to have one handed to them.. Anyway, thanks for all the feedback. VERY interesting.
I live in Ontario, Canada and all you need to be eligible in Ontario is that you must be working for your employer at least 13 weeks before your due date, I know it is different in other provinces. We get 52 weeks paid, and I believe you get 60% of your your normal pay, plus our child benefits that you get monthly.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Comparison_of_Canadian_and_American_economies
This is where i got the info from.
as for mat leave for me i have 1 year off paid! and you could always go back sooner if you feel that 1 year is to much but i havent known anyone to want to go back that soon and i really feel for the women that have to go back to work after only 6-12 short weeks..i dont know how i would handle that!
This is where i got the info from.
as for mat leave for me i have 1 year off paid! and you could always go back sooner if you feel that 1 year is to much but i havent known anyone to want to go back that soon and i really feel for the women that have to go back to work after only 6-12 short weeks..i dont know how i would handle that!
My pay will be through my employer for the FLMA. I get 6 week paid 80% of my salery by my employer and the rest of the time I will use earned time.
yeah i want to move to canada too! If i was still working where i was before DH and I got married before i got prego i would of gotten 12 weeks unpaid and that was it. For couples that depend on both sides of the income to make ends meet how in the world do they think you can take 12 weeks off with no pay?! woot go canada. the free health care by itself would help dh and i alot. i have the goverments medicaid so i dont pay for anything, but try finding a decent doc and somewhere within an hour is impossible. thank goodness we are moving to wisconsin. i cannot STAND illinos corrupt goverment. DH and I once considered moving to canada but i heard getting citzenship is really difficult.
I want to move to Canada!
At least my maternity leave is paid (my dad donates me leave to use under FMLA). I work for the state government and that's the way they do it I guess. I can have up to 12 weeks paid if I have the leave to cover it. 6 to 12 weeks for maternity leave is just not enough! This country needs some major reforms IMO!!
At least my maternity leave is paid (my dad donates me leave to use under FMLA). I work for the state government and that's the way they do it I guess. I can have up to 12 weeks paid if I have the leave to cover it. 6 to 12 weeks for maternity leave is just not enough! This country needs some major reforms IMO!!
Thank you for posting this. What was your source? I would be interested in researching more. Thanks again.
this is long and has nothing to do with MAT leave but for the person who asked about the tax rates here in canada this is what i could find ! sorry its long LOL
Canada total tax and non-tax revenue for every level of government equals about 38.4% of GDP,[2] compared to the U.S. rate of 28.2%.[1]
A significant portion of this tax differential is due to spending differences between the two countries. While the US is running deficits of about 4% of GDP,[3] Canada has consistently posted a budget surplus of around 1% of GDP.[4] Considered in a revenue-neutral context, the differential is much smaller - Canada's total governmental spending was about 36% of GDP[5] vs. 31% in the US.[3] In addition, caution must be used when comparing taxes across countries, due to the different services each offers. Whereas the Canadian healthcare system is 70% government-funded, the US system is just under 50% government-funded (mostly via Medicare and Medicaid); adding the additional healthcare-spending burden to the above figures to obtain comparable numbers (+3% for Canada, +7% for the US) gives adjusted expenditures of 38–39% of GDP for each of the two nations.
The taxes are applied the same as well. Canada's income tax system is more heavily biased against the highest income earners, thus while Canada's income tax rate is higher on average, the bottom fifty percent of the population is roughly taxed the same on income as in the United States. However, Canada has a national goods and services tax of 5% on most purchases, while the U.S. federal government does not, increasing the tax burden on Canadian low-income earners due to the regressive nature of a sales tax. Canadian GST does not tax food and other essentials and a GST rebate for low-income earners mitigates regressiveness.[6]
In addition to the 5% GST levied on most purchases, some Canadians also pay a provincial sales tax at a rate that varies by province and can be as high as 10%. In Ontario, for example, where the provincial sales tax (PST) is 8%, consumers must pay a total of 13% sales tax on top of the purchase price. There are some purchases which are PST exempt, such as children's clothing. In the U.S., most states impose a sales tax, and cities and counties are often permitted to levy taxes as well, which can exceed 10% on purchases.
Canada has no inheritance tax while the United States still does, although many conservatives and economic liberals are pushing to have it abolished.
[edit] Government Spending
Government spending at all levels (federal, state/provincial and local) has traditionally been higher in Canada than the United States. In Canada, government spending as a percentage of GDP peaked at 53% in 1992. Since 1992 spending has steadily declined in Canada to just below 40 percent in 2008[7].
Spending in the United States fluctuated narrowly around 34-38 percent of GDP over the same period[8]. However, starting in 2008 US spending has turned sharply upwards to reach an estimated 42.7% of GDP in 2009[9] from 39% in 2008. Spending is expected to reach 45% of GDP in 2011[10], and stabilize at that level.
[edit] Social programs
For its higher taxes Canada has a larger system of social programs than the United States. This includes having a national broadcaster in the CBC, a largely government-funded health care system, and having all major universities receive partial government funding. The United States, however, does have most of its major universities subsidized by state government. The US also has two national public broadcasters which receive partial government funding, PBS (television) and NPR (radio).
The greatest difference in social programs is in health care. Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Government spends as much on health care, 7% of GDP, as the Canadian government does,[11] and total healthcare spending is much higher - 14.6% of GDP in the US vs. 10% in Canada.[12] Canadians, however, receive comparable care to those Americans who receive treatment, and result measures, such as life expectancy and infant mortality are better in Canada. The Canadian health care system is said by some also to be attractive to employers, as in Canada health care is mostly paid through employee income taxes, while in the United States most companies choose to extend health benefits to full-time employees. Many employers in Canada do offer employees some additional medical coverage, for non-necessary treatments, and for pharmaceuticals which are not universally-covered the government-paid health insurance system. The most common complaint regarding the Canadian system are the long lines and waiting periods that have appeared for minor and non-life threatening procedures over the last 15 years, since the introduction of widespread cuts to public funding. Separately, a number of medical tests and screenings are not covered (or due to increasing costs, are no longer covered) by the Canadian health system, forcing patients to pay for these services out of their own pockets. For these reasons, some relatively wealthy Canadians undergo treatment at private healthcare facilities at their own expense, either in Canada, in India, or in other nations[13] to avoid waiting for medical treatment, joining "medical tourists" from many nations, including the US.[13] Despite these sporadic problems, Canada's healthcare performance is generally on par with, or better than, the US.[citation needed] Further healthcare coverage is universal for Canadians.
Canada total tax and non-tax revenue for every level of government equals about 38.4% of GDP,[2] compared to the U.S. rate of 28.2%.[1]
A significant portion of this tax differential is due to spending differences between the two countries. While the US is running deficits of about 4% of GDP,[3] Canada has consistently posted a budget surplus of around 1% of GDP.[4] Considered in a revenue-neutral context, the differential is much smaller - Canada's total governmental spending was about 36% of GDP[5] vs. 31% in the US.[3] In addition, caution must be used when comparing taxes across countries, due to the different services each offers. Whereas the Canadian healthcare system is 70% government-funded, the US system is just under 50% government-funded (mostly via Medicare and Medicaid); adding the additional healthcare-spending burden to the above figures to obtain comparable numbers (+3% for Canada, +7% for the US) gives adjusted expenditures of 38–39% of GDP for each of the two nations.
The taxes are applied the same as well. Canada's income tax system is more heavily biased against the highest income earners, thus while Canada's income tax rate is higher on average, the bottom fifty percent of the population is roughly taxed the same on income as in the United States. However, Canada has a national goods and services tax of 5% on most purchases, while the U.S. federal government does not, increasing the tax burden on Canadian low-income earners due to the regressive nature of a sales tax. Canadian GST does not tax food and other essentials and a GST rebate for low-income earners mitigates regressiveness.[6]
In addition to the 5% GST levied on most purchases, some Canadians also pay a provincial sales tax at a rate that varies by province and can be as high as 10%. In Ontario, for example, where the provincial sales tax (PST) is 8%, consumers must pay a total of 13% sales tax on top of the purchase price. There are some purchases which are PST exempt, such as children's clothing. In the U.S., most states impose a sales tax, and cities and counties are often permitted to levy taxes as well, which can exceed 10% on purchases.
Canada has no inheritance tax while the United States still does, although many conservatives and economic liberals are pushing to have it abolished.
[edit] Government Spending
Government spending at all levels (federal, state/provincial and local) has traditionally been higher in Canada than the United States. In Canada, government spending as a percentage of GDP peaked at 53% in 1992. Since 1992 spending has steadily declined in Canada to just below 40 percent in 2008[7].
Spending in the United States fluctuated narrowly around 34-38 percent of GDP over the same period[8]. However, starting in 2008 US spending has turned sharply upwards to reach an estimated 42.7% of GDP in 2009[9] from 39% in 2008. Spending is expected to reach 45% of GDP in 2011[10], and stabilize at that level.
[edit] Social programs
For its higher taxes Canada has a larger system of social programs than the United States. This includes having a national broadcaster in the CBC, a largely government-funded health care system, and having all major universities receive partial government funding. The United States, however, does have most of its major universities subsidized by state government. The US also has two national public broadcasters which receive partial government funding, PBS (television) and NPR (radio).
The greatest difference in social programs is in health care. Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Government spends as much on health care, 7% of GDP, as the Canadian government does,[11] and total healthcare spending is much higher - 14.6% of GDP in the US vs. 10% in Canada.[12] Canadians, however, receive comparable care to those Americans who receive treatment, and result measures, such as life expectancy and infant mortality are better in Canada. The Canadian health care system is said by some also to be attractive to employers, as in Canada health care is mostly paid through employee income taxes, while in the United States most companies choose to extend health benefits to full-time employees. Many employers in Canada do offer employees some additional medical coverage, for non-necessary treatments, and for pharmaceuticals which are not universally-covered the government-paid health insurance system. The most common complaint regarding the Canadian system are the long lines and waiting periods that have appeared for minor and non-life threatening procedures over the last 15 years, since the introduction of widespread cuts to public funding. Separately, a number of medical tests and screenings are not covered (or due to increasing costs, are no longer covered) by the Canadian health system, forcing patients to pay for these services out of their own pockets. For these reasons, some relatively wealthy Canadians undergo treatment at private healthcare facilities at their own expense, either in Canada, in India, or in other nations[13] to avoid waiting for medical treatment, joining "medical tourists" from many nations, including the US.[13] Despite these sporadic problems, Canada's healthcare performance is generally on par with, or better than, the US.[citation needed] Further healthcare coverage is universal for Canadians.
i wont need maternity leave with this preg but with my son i saved up all my vacation and paid time so i was paid for the first 2 weeks of not working.....everything depends on your work policy and the company...my company did not pay me but he was born around income tax return so that helped...regardless i returned to work 4 weeks later after having him with my docs permission....usually you are taking out of 6 weeks and most companies do not pay when you are on maternity but by law (FMLA) they have to hold your exact position for you to return to
I think one reason other countries can afford it is they have lower overhead for medical costs. For instance 30% of every dollar for medical expenses in the US is for overhead. Only 1% per dollar in Canada goes to over head. They have lower overhead because they don't have the amount of paperwork, CEO salaries, profits, etc. to pay for. We spend a lot of money determining who and what are covered in the US. It's kind of sad we waste so much money. I think we all agree it's a broken system.
That is definitely NOT how it works in the US.. I am just starting this post to find out how it works in other countries. So, you are in England.. What is your tax rate?
And taking home $400-500 out of $600 (as my for example) isn't a far cry from the US.. I just don't understand how your government can afford it..
And taking home $400-500 out of $600 (as my for example) isn't a far cry from the US.. I just don't understand how your government can afford it..
Ohh...
I know you DONT get paid leave if you didnt get pregnant whilst working at the company!
Sorry.
x
I know you DONT get paid leave if you didnt get pregnant whilst working at the company!
Sorry.
x
I wouldn't say it works that way everywhere in the world, because the US doesn't. We get 12 weeks unpaid under FMLA if your company has it. (smaller ones with a certain number of employes don't have to) some people can get paid, but if I remember, they don't have to.
Anywhere in the world, you are entitled to start your Maternity leave 15 weeks before your baby is due, and you are entitled the minimum of 52 weeks extra maternity leave.
They can pay you maternity pay, if you plan to go back you pay it back, if you don't go back I dont think you can pay it back... But if you pay the money back, you can claim it back through the Governement. Well thats how it works in England...
You can go bck sooner than the 52 weeks is over and you can stay longer and leave the day before your baby is born, as long a you're comfortable! You can't take your maternity leave before 15 weeks before your baby is due without a Doc's note to say you NEED to leave sooner...
:)
x
They can pay you maternity pay, if you plan to go back you pay it back, if you don't go back I dont think you can pay it back... But if you pay the money back, you can claim it back through the Governement. Well thats how it works in England...
You can go bck sooner than the 52 weeks is over and you can stay longer and leave the day before your baby is born, as long a you're comfortable! You can't take your maternity leave before 15 weeks before your baby is due without a Doc's note to say you NEED to leave sooner...
:)
x
I live in Illinois and I have 12 weeks FMLA, but I have to carry disability insurance to have any kind of pay coming in while on maternity leave and that only lasts the normal 6 weeks. While company never came out to say it, but if I were to not go back the day after 12 weeks to the day I would most likely be let go. I just wish there were other options b/c 6 or even 12 weeks just doesn't seem like enough time. I was on bedrest for 5 weeks with my first so I only got to take 6 weeks after she was born and it just killed me to go back to work!
I lose $100 next month b/c my oldest will be 6 yo lol
I love living in Canada!
Never have I EVER had a complaint!
I love living in Canada!
Never have I EVER had a complaint!
It depends on your income. If you make more, then you're taxed at a higher rate. About 30% in my case, I think. We get a child tax benefit, $100 per child up until the age of 6, plus, like bhenneker mentioned, there is another credit available to lower income families with young children.
Our governments choose to put their focus - and money - on different things, that's all. Our military is not nearly as large or "developed" (for lack of a better word) as the US' for example.
Our governments choose to put their focus - and money - on different things, that's all. Our military is not nearly as large or "developed" (for lack of a better word) as the US' for example.
I'm from Canada too and here also we get about $500 a month per child in lower income families i believe under $45000 a year (i might be wrong) to answer your other question if I were to make $600 take home would be around $400-$500 depending on the job. Also all our living expences are alot higher then the US. To feed a family of 5 cost about $300 a week (with mostly no name products) And the free health care is great....:)
How would that be possible with free health care for everyone and apparently tons of paid leave for each child born? So, are you saying Canadians are basically totally reliant on their government to pick up all these tabs, and if so, it is hidden is some kind of tax somewhere, or else all of these programs would have failed., The government gets it $$ somewhere.. They may pay less income tax, but some tax of theirs MUST be incredibly higher.
Actually they only pay from $300-$900 a year for health coverage. If you make less than $20,000 then you are exempt from the insurance tax. They pay less income tax than US citizens.
Your taxes must be insane!! I would NEVER want to hand over that much money OR control to my government.. I know you all have universal health care. I am not a fan of that idea either, but that's a whole other topic.. Do you know what % of your income is taxed? For example.. If you grossed $600/week, how much would you take home in Canada (approx)?
Oh, yeah, I forgot...I was without pay for 6 weeks, but I made an arrangement with my boss and got approved by HR to work from home for the last 6 weeks at 100% pay. It's not the norm though.
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