The U.S. Fails Working Parents Across The Board

The U.S. Fails Its Working Parents Across The Board The U.S. lags behind other countries in terms of women's labor force participation as well as family-friendly work policies. Labor force participation rate, women ages 25-54, 2010 HIGHER LOWER ent of wagesjea Paid sick days for a worker at median earnings undergoing a 50-day cancer treatment Sweden 87.5 38 3,2 4.7 Yes 14 weeks 80% Denmark 85.6 36 5 8.9 Yes 18 weeks 100% 17 or 21 NO Portugal 84.9 DATA DATA NO MORE LESS 4.8 Yes 100% (or 80% for 150 days) weeks Finland 84.4 48 8.4 Yes 18 weeks 70% 35 or 45 Norway 84.4 50 5 10.8 Yes 100% (or 80% for 45 weeks) Paid sick days for a worker at median earnings missing 5 days of work due to the flu weeks France 83.8 24 10.4 Yes 16 weeks 100% up to a ceiling Switzerland 83.4 15 50.6 No 14 weeks 80% up to a ceiling MORE LESS Austria 82.8 45 11.8 No 16 weeks 100% Canada 82.3 22 18.5 No 17 weeks 55% for 15 weeks up to a ceiling Cost, of childcare, as percent of net family income, 2012 Netherlands 82.3 35 3.5 10.1 Yes 16 weeks 1000% up to a ceiling Germany 81.3 44 5 11.1 No 14 weeks 100% LOWER HIGHER 15 weeks 82% for the first 30 days: 75% for the remainder (up to a ceiling) Belgium 80.4 Yes 39 4.7 6 weeks paid at 90%; lower 52 weeks of 90% or flat rate for weeks 7-39; weeks 40-52 unpaid United 78.7 10 0.4 26.6 Yes Kingdom Paid paternity leave provided? Spain 78.3 33 1.2 4.7 Yes 16 weeks 100% YES NO New Zealand 76.9 5 18.6 Yes 14 weeks 100% up to a ceiling Luxembourg 76.4 50 5 5.4 Yes 16 weeks 100% Length of paid maternity leave Australia 75.2 10 14.5 Yes 52 weeks 18 weeks at the federal minimum wage level MORE LESS United States 75.2 23.1 No Greece 72.2 28 3.5 3.2 Yes 17 weeks 100% Ireland 72.2 17 0.7 25.6 No 42 weeks 80% up to a ceiling for 26 weeks Percent of wages paid during maternity leave NO Italy 71.6 29 Yes 22 weeks 90% DATA Japan 64.4 28 16.9 No 14 weeks 66.70% HIGHER LOWER Sources: Center for Economic and Policy Research, National Bureau of Economic Research, OECD, International Labour Organization THE HUFFINGTON POST Women's labor force participation Long-term paid sick days Short-term paid sick days Cost of childcare, as a percent of net family income Paid pa ternity leave? Length of paid maternity leave paid Buunp