An American writer believes that all women should be given paid maternity leaves -- regardless if they're pregnant or not. The author argued that every woman deserves to have temporary breaks from their jobs and dedicate that time off for themselves.
In a recent article penned for the New York Post, Meghann Foye, the author of "Meternity," said that being a parent seems to be the only way that an individual can get temporary breaks from their demanding jobs. The 38-year-old writer said women should be allowed to take time off from their jobs and dedicate their energy to other aspects of their lives.
More Women Get Burnout Syndrome
Foye said she first developed the concept when she was an editor at a popular magazine, and her other colleagues have been taking breaks away from their job to focus on their pregnancies. Employees who are childless, like her, were supposed to remain at work and shoulder the responsibilities of those who are on maternity leaves.
Meghann Foye further acknowledged that men and women equally benefit from a maternity leave, but it is most advantageous for women. She argued that though burnout syndrome can occur among both sexes, women have higher chances of developing mental tiredness because they are overwhelmed by the double duties they have to perform at work and at home.
Foye's "Meternity" is about a woman named Liz Buckley, who has a hectic work schedule and decided to fake a pregnancy in order to work out her personal life. The book can be purchased on Amazon and in select stores.
'Meternity' Leave Idea Gets Backlash
Some mothers didn't take too kindly of Foye's "meternity" leave concept. They argued that maternity leaves are far from a time-out, but rather a recovery period from giving birth to a child. It is also a time when mothers dedicate weeks and months to cater to their newborn's needs, Yahoo! reported.
Foye issued a statement to defend her stance. According to the author, her idea of "meternity" is to prove that all women deserve to practice balance between their work and personal lives - even though they don't have pregnancy as an excuse.
Countries That Excel In Maternity Leave Benefits
A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, identified the countries which have generous maternity leave benefits. These are Croatia, Estonia, Israel, Mexico and Poland. These countries all offer 100 percent of earnings to eligible pregnant women, the Epoch Times reported.
Japan, meanwhile, is generous to its employees with its 52-week leave at 58 percent compensation for fathers. In the United States, the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act allows eligible employees to have 12 weeks of leave, but the downside is it's unpaid.
