maternity / paternity leave

[stylinsam]

having a debate in the office about how long a women should have maternity leave (i say a year the least) and the men in the office say 6 months is enough! and for men paternity leave (i say 4 months) and the men in the office say 2months! what are your views?

[4getmenot]

I'd go for 6 months and thats at the most, any longer I'd be bored to tears.

[stylinsam]

but its a year of work!!!!! ;oP

[loobie]

Woman from my work has just gone on maternity leave for 9 months. I reckon a year but fingers crossed when I have bubba's I won't work at all!! Don't wanna miss out on my little darlings growing up!! Well I say won't work, I might get a local job cause at the minute I work in central London and get home at half six. Way too late if I have children!!!

[dot.hawkes]

having never had the worry of having hubby home on paternity leave it was not an issue, but come on, the guy under your feet for months on end, give me a break, a couple of weeks is enough, my ex hubby had a week off immediately after they were born and then went back to work, i guess some women who aren't able to have friends and relatives around may need the father about in the day, but when are you ever going to get into a routine? And how many women have ended up with two babies to look after, not just one, women don't instinctively stop cooking cleaning and the rest just cos they are on maternity leave, it would end up just as tiring having them at home like it is for the two weeks over Christmas when they take annual leave cos the place is closed and they sit in a chair watching tele for two weeks whilst you meet yourself coming back!
Sorry Sam rant over :(

[redcrx]

Sam its a year off work yes. But 6 weeks is at 90% of wages the rest to 6 months is �108 a week and the last 6 months is unpaid or something like that

I returned to work very quickly, I needed to return becauseof work commitments but also because i wanted to keep working. Luckily my son is with me 3 days a week at work though.