Two Sarahs: new motherhood in Sweden vs Seattle

[Anonymous]

Sweden sounds like a paradise for new mothers. I hope my little girl has maternity benefits like that when she grows up.

https://hbr.org/2020/03/two-new-moms-return-to-work-one-in-seattle-one-in-stockholm?fbclid=IwAR3LaaYYOOh-8fSIDC4SIq2x9qLKPVSLvYuyjav8-xrLHjOhezTH_YcRXUM

[Anonymous]

Wow

[Anonymous]

When we lived in Sweden, we got a check from the government because we had kids (barnbidrag). And because we had 2 kids, we also received a large family supplement. Very child friendly across the board.

I believe it’s the only European country that is having enough babies (and not relying on immigration) to sustain a healthy growth rate.

[Anonymous]

Paid maternity leave went up from 12 weeks to 26 weeks fairly recently in India. Canada has a generous maternity/paternity leave policy. US is very backward.

[Anonymous]

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/16/u-s-lacks-mandated-paid-parental-leave/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paid maternity leave went up from 12 weeks to 26 weeks fairly recently in India. Canada has a generous maternity/paternity leave policy. US is very backward.

Yup. It’s the only developed country without maternity leave. But damn, Sweden sounds amazing.

[Anonymous]

This is fascinating but I since it was in a business review I wish they had gone more into the details about how businesses manage. Like here, ime no one is hired to cover a person on parental leave because it’s so short. Other people just fill in. That’s probably why the transition back in felt so abrupt, because the fill-in-era were anxious to shift load back to American Sarah. But in Sweden, I get that the company isn’t paying for the person on leave but do they hire someone else? What happens when the original person comes back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating but I since it was in a business review I wish they had gone more into the details about how businesses manage. Like here, ime no one is hired to cover a person on parental leave because it’s so short. Other people just fill in. That’s probably why the transition back in felt so abrupt, because the fill-in-era were anxious to shift load back to American Sarah. But in Sweden, I get that the company isn’t paying for the person on leave but do they hire someone else? What happens when the original person comes back?

Yes, companies hire someone else or re-assign internally with clear terms that this is to stand in for someone out on leave - sometimes this ends up being a step into the door for the fill in person or a way for fill in person to grow into a new role or responsibilities. In Swedish Sara case, the fill in probably just stayed on when Sara accepted a new job.

[Anonymous]

P.s. I think it’s easier to plan and hire someone for 15 months than for 4 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:P.s. I think it’s easier to plan and hire someone for 15 months than for 4 weeks.

This. Our maternity sub for HR was there year long. She was not treated as a sub and she was a FT employee from her perspective

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.s. I think it’s easier to plan and hire someone for 15 months than for 4 weeks.

This. Our maternity sub for HR was there year long. She was not treated as a sub and she was a FT employee from her perspective

So does Sweden have a ton of people running around on one year contracts? I’m not saying it’s not better, I’m just saying it leaves a lot of open questions. A year is a long time for someone to be on a team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.s. I think it’s easier to plan and hire someone for 15 months than for 4 weeks.

This. Our maternity sub for HR was there year long. She was not treated as a sub and she was a FT employee from her perspective

So does Sweden have a ton of people running around on one year contracts? I’m not saying it’s not better, I’m just saying it leaves a lot of open questions. A year is a long time for someone to be on a team.

Yes, they do. Since the maternity laws are universal, there is always need for folks that can crank it up quickly and fit in to a new organization once they move on. And as a PP pointed out, you often get absorbed into the organization you are subbing for.

All of this is in a wider context where social security is strong and you are well protected if you stay out of the workforce between gigs.

[Anonymous]

It's very hard to get hired as a woman in Sweden for this reason.

[Anonymous]

What tax rate was Sarah Sweden paying?

[Anonymous]

I mean I see this, but I still would rather be in the US. I like my lower tax rate and higher pay. I did not have paid maternity. My life is more similar to Sarah from Seattle. I did 12 weeks LWOP during maternity and they didn't hire anyone on a detail which killed my productivity when I return. The piles still haven't disappeared and my baby is now 12 months old. I might never catch up.