General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: what do childfree/childless people get instead of "parental leave?" [View all]restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)I really doubt and hope that you meant it that way, but even asking this question is terribly hurtful to people who don't have children. It suggests that tending to one's child is the only thing worth taking significant time off from work to do. There are lots of things including caring for other family members, investing in a personal project or something to do with one's own health, taking a sabbatical, or investing in significant volunteer work that benefits the community. Those are only a few examples of something that people might want time for. Having children is a choice. And while I support parents having time to bond with new children, it is unfair to suggest that people without children don't have anything that's worth significant investments of their time. Family leave is a benefit offered to those who chose to have children. Equal access to a similar benefit needs to be offered to those who didn't choose to have children.