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parental leave

/pəˈrɛntəl liv/
IPA guide

Other forms: parental leaves

The time a new mom or dad takes off work to care for their child is called parental leave. In Sweden, parents get 480 days of paid parental leave after a birth or adoption.

In the past, many countries offered more parental leave to new mothers than fathers, but parents are increasingly encouraged to share the paid time off work. In the U.K., what used to be 39 weeks of maternity leave can now be shared between moms and dads. Parental leave is considered important for the health and happiness of new parents and their babies, and it's paid for by the governments of many countries.

Definitions of parental leave
  1. noun
    time off work granted to a new mother or father
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