FAMILY UNFRIENDLY: US LAGS WORLD IN FAMILY BENEFITS
18 June 2004

A new study, produced by the Project on Global Working Families, compares guaranteed family-related labor benefits in the US to over 100 industrial and developing countries. The study found that a lack of government mandates has left the US behind not only industrial democracies, but even poorer developing countries like Botswana and El Salvador, in terms of protections for workers responsible for children and sick relatives.

The US requires no paid sick leave; at least 66 million American workers receive no pay for any time taken for illness. By comparison, 139 other countries require or provide paid leave for short- or long-term illness. 116 cover at least 10 days per year. The study specifies that a majority of middle class families suffer the burden of this benefit-policy lag.

The study shows that European countries are more effective at guaranteeing protections for working families. A fellow from the Heritage Foundation claims that the standard of living is still higher for US families, because EU citizens pay more in taxes. The problem of healthcare and paid leave is not, however addressed by this argument, and it doesn't account for labor standards which are not necessarily government-funded programs.

The study reportedly cites at least 37 countries that guarantee paid time off for workers caring for sick children, from France to Vietnam. The US has only the Family and Medical Leave Act, which requires employers to allow workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for sick relatives or to give birth. Critics note that the FMLA does not provide or require any paid leave at all, and that it is often exploited by employers who interpret it to apply only to cases of severe or terminal illness.

Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced just this week a bill which would require at least 7 days paid leave for personal or family illness. Perhaps the most serious gap regards maternity leave. The Boston Globe notes: "The United States does not guarantee paid leave to mothers. In contrast, 168 countries have legislation ensuring paid maternity leave, and nearly 50 provide 12 to 13 weeks paid." [For more: Boston Globe]

Sweden, rated the best place in the world to give birth, provides an amazing 96 weeks of paid leave to bring a newborn into a working family. Australia offers a year of leave, but pays only a small cash benefit for the first six months. Canada has a dual system, where employers can choose to match government payments, though some pay nothing, with government workers earning as much as 90% of their salary during maternity leave. Quebec is seeking to grant 80% pay to all mothers during maternity leave.

A 2003 survey of 33 nations ranked the US with Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore as providing the shortest time off, and in the US, it is unpaid. The study notes that in order to qualify for FMLA protection, a woman must work for a company of at least 50 employees (again, 12 weeks leave, without pay). Compare that to Norway, which the University of Toronto's Childcare Resource and Research Unit notes "gives 52 weeks of leave at 80% of the person's pay and also allows parents to take another two years, which is paid at a flat rate." [For more: CRRU]