Maternity leave
Maternity leave is a period of absence from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child. It is usually created from a mixture of sick leave, vacation, holiday time, personal days, short-term disability, and unpaid family leave time.
Pronunciation
Maternity leave: /məˈtɜːrnɪti liːv/
Etymology
The term "maternity leave" is derived from the Latin word "mater" meaning "mother" and the Old English word "læfan" meaning "to allow to remain".
Definition
Maternity leave is a type of parental leave that is granted to expectant or new mothers during the months surrounding childbirth. This leave is usually paid, but it can also be unpaid in some cases. The length of the leave varies from country to country and from state to state within countries.
Related Terms
- Paternity leave: A period of absence from work granted to a father after or shortly before the birth of his child.
- Parental leave: A period of absence from work granted to a parent to take care of their child.
- Family leave: A period of absence from work granted to an employee to take care of personal or family needs.
- Short-term disability: A type of insurance that pays a percentage of an employee's salary for a specified amount of time, if they are ill or injured, and cannot perform the duties of their job.
- Sick leave: Paid time off work granted by employers to employees who are sick.
Legislation
In many countries, maternity leave is guaranteed by law and may be paid or unpaid. The length of the leave and the amount of pay can vary greatly. In the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to mothers for the birth, adoption, or foster care of a child.
See Also
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