A real-world solution for parental leave that promotes gender equality at work and at home
What do Papua New Guinea, Suriname, and the United States have in common? These three nations are the only ones that do not offer some form of parental leave to new parents. The US lags far behind the rest of the world on this important issue, raising questions about our commitment to gender equality and the welfare of our families.
In Fixing Parental Leave, Gayle Kaufman takes an in-depth look at parental leave policies in the US, the UK, and Sweden, and evaluates the benefits and drawbacks of leave policies in each country. She finds that there is more to parental leave policies than whether a country provides time off around the birth or adoption of a child. While most policies are designed to help women return to work, this is only half of the puzzle. The second half requires men to be meaningful partners by encouraging them to take equal time at home.
Ultimately, Kaufman arrives at a rational solution that will promote gender equity through a policy that enables parents at companies of all sizes to spend six months with their new child.

"Inducing fury as it exposes American workplaces that give lip service to family leave laws, but that do little to support new families, the book shows that having children penalizes working parents, who are shunted into “mommy track” jobs, miss out on promotions, and depend on employers’ goodwill as they adapt. Forwarding a nuanced perspective on the real consequences of leave policies, [Fixing Parental Leave] compares the US to nations including Sweden and the UK, and find that most successful leave policies take fathers into account, too… The book’s suggestions are enlightening, big picture ones that keep in mind the fact that babies need parents who provide love and stability." - Foreword Reviews

"In Fixing Parental Leave, Kaufman argues that the US continues to lead the world in its lack of support for families, made apparent by its approach to parental leave. The author’s carefully constructed case study of parental leave policies in the US, UK, and Sweden reveals not only best policies and practices for ensuring healthy families and maximizing women’s participation in the labor force, but also illuminates the clear relationship between parental leave and gender equality… [A] valuable study." - Choice