Our leave plaices are woefully inadequate compared to European countries. Europe offers at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Germany and Sweden offer the last amount at 14 weeks. The United Kingdom offers 52 weeks, while Ireland offered 42 weeks of paid maternity leave. Here in the USA, we offer zero. Although, says the

Under the Family Medical Leave Act, a mother or father can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick child. But, the FMLA does not apply to employers with less than 50 workers and it does not apply to part-time workers. The FMLA has limits. It does not apply to many workers.

Paid maternity leave is virtually nonexistent in the US.  Even unpaid leave is not a given.  Since, the Family Medical Leave Act only applies to employers with 50 or more employees.  A worker must have worked for the employer some 12 months prior to requesting the FMLA leave.  According to one public agency, the FMLA