the employer doesn't have to pay her salary.

The employer doesn't pay any salary here, too. It's the social security that's covering the 2/3rds of the regular salary for those 14 weeks.

(Each citizen pays a certain amount each month, deducted from the salary through the employer, or if unemployed, directly by the citizen, a smaller sum - that's our "social security". then, in cases such as maternity leave, loss of work possibilities through accidents or old age and the like, it's the social security who covers stuff back for the citizen).

Gud, what Sparky said.

You live in a more civilized country than ours, Nilly.

Also, it's so good to see you.

My boss just dropped me in the middle of a kerfuffle at work. Man, I just hate it when it's a problem with the humans and not with the computers.

Thanks for the well wishes, I'll be glad when some of the roads open up again. It's a real pain when the roads get all iced up.

Congratulations on the knocking up Sparky!

We have maternity and paternity leave as well, though I don't think it's paid once you've exhausted your annual and sick leave. Though you can ask for contributions from other employees.

And men around here do take paternity leave. In fact, it's how I got my most recent transfer -- this division needed an extra person temporarily because someone was taking paternity leave, with the possibility of the transfer becoming permanent after his return. And I jumped at the chance.

I am juxtaposing Billytea's impending parenthood announcement with Sparky's. this is very funny.

Man, I just hate it when it's a problem with the humans and not with the computers.

Wow. We live in a parallel universe...or universes at 90 degrees. I lovewhen it is a people problem. Squishy stuff I can fix. But I feel completely helpless...okay, not completely...just a lot...incompetent when it is a computer problem.

Ginger, it's great to post with you!

I try to at least skim, but regularly have to give that up and be satisfied with only asking myself how much to skip. But nothing is as fun as posting.

You live in a more civilized country than ours

More childbirth-encouraging, at least.

We also have the largest number (and variety) of tests and doctors appointments per pregnancy, as far as I could tell, especially the ones that are not usually covered and don't have to take place when everything is reported as going on OK.

Tom, I'm sorry you have to deal with other people's messes.

I didn't take much time off for the birth of my first kid because I had just started a new job after my former company started to dissolve.

I saved up a bit of vacation so I could take some time off for the second kid.

My wife was working at that time and got unpaid leave.

I just reported my findings to my boss, and someone else is going to be in big trouble as a result.