Enabling Family Leave

Abstract

Parental leaves underwent a huge transformation in the US and UK during the 1990s and early 2000s. Before this time, family leave was underdeveloped in the liberal welfare state. Mothers in the UK were able to take a family leave only sporadically and with difficulty. In the US, where no family leave existed before 1993, women were taking their two weeks sick leave (if they had it) as a form of maternal leave. Policy expanded rapidly in the UK, first with the lowering of eligibility requirements and higher maternity pay. Then more time and financial support were included in 2003 for mothers, and fathers and adoptive parents were also entitled to family leaves. By 2010, maternity leave had been extended to 12 months, fathers could take up some of this, if mothers went back to work, and pay for leaves extended upwards. The US family leave was groundbreaking as it established worker protection for mothers and fathers, as well as for relatives, to care for their spouses, children, parents, and for themselves. A 12-week period of leave for care reasons with job protection was established. The transformation of this family policy is quite amazing, considering the fundamental shift in labor law and its effects on a liberal welfare state.