I think this totally goes against what women have campained for in the work place for all these years - EQUAL rights.
Why should I be entitled to six months off just because I am a woman?

Women on maternity leave (and men on paternity) are on this leave to adapt to being new parents and bond with their child. It's just ridiculous to suggest that women without children are entitled to this time too.

If someone wanted to take a long break from work to travel or whatever, then they should negotiate with their boss for the time off. Simple as.
Comment by Eilidh on October 16 17:50

Maternity leave is granted on the grounds that a woman is taking time off to care for a child and it is an important time for early child development. The focus of maternity leave is on the child. We should be encouraging employers to offer flexibility in terms of career breaks and this should be for men & women alike. We should be concious of protecting the status and importance of maternity leave and regarding its unique difference to other breaks from work for travel, voluntary work etc.
Comment by Paula on October 16 18:09

I think it is time the Government made some concession for childless women, whether it be 'maternity' leave or tax consideration. It's not acceptable to say we can take time off between jobs - we don't get benefits to cover for that yet we do our best to cover for colleagues on maternity leave who then take added days off on return because of child care issues. It really does feel like we get the raw deal.
Comment by Alison Oldham on October 17 12:29

Er you must be joking? Why do childless women deserve time off work? If they do then so do all men, childless or otherwise. I don't really think you can call this 'the big debate', I can't even imagine anyone taking this study seriously. Of course every woman is going to say six months off work is a good idea. But they're biased.

Sarah(Oct16)I think the author was referring to what a childless woman might do with her six months off...since she wouldn't have a child to look after.
Comment by Sophie on October 17 12:43

As a childless woman who is not planning on having kids, I think the idea is ridiculous! There is a reason for maternity to leave and anyone who thinks it is a holiday has never met a new mother. If I want to take 6 months off to explore the world then I will save up money and leave my job or if they agree, take an extended unpaid leave of absence. I can't believe the idea is even being debated, it is so ludicrous!
Comment by Kim on October 17 13:08

I couldn't agree more with Sarah. Sounds like there's a view that new mothers are sitting about all day, drinking tea and having a lovely stress-free time... which is utter nonsense. I'm on maternity leave at the moment and it is much harder work than my usual job, despite the huge rewards. Before we start talking about 'maternity' leave for non-mothers, let's sort out decent paternity leave - sharing the time off between parents for example.
Comment by Chris on October 17 13:12

Should healthy people be entitled to take sick leave when not needed..... Maternity leave is given, not as a holiday or time off, but to allow the body to recover after child birth and to take care of a new born baby.
Comment by FIona on October 17 13:31

Mat leave is about physical recovery from pregnancy, labour & being able to feed your baby for the recommended time. It's not a holiday!!! Whilst I support the notion of employers becoming more flexible for all employees, mat leave for non-mothers would be ludicrous. The child-free should get on with enjoying all that free time that parents no longer have because they're busy bringing up future tax payers!
Comment by Rebecca on October 17 13:57

This is absolutely ridiculous. For a start maternity leave is not a holiday, if anything having a baby is more restrictive than not. I am childless but do not expect to be able to have 6 months off work with some form of wage, it's insane! Maternity leave is a womans right so she can support her new baby. By granting leave to all women you are reducing the sincerity of maternity leave and making it frivolous, as if women don't need that time off to have a child.

This concept of things 'not being fair' is stupid, life's not fair we just have to get on with it.


Comment by kathryn on October 17 14:23

I don't have any children, but I really don't see the point in this! If you have a child you might need time off to take care of him/her, but if you don't then why? If it's unpaid, and available to both men and women, fair enough, but otherwise sorry, it just sounds stupid to me! I would never expect to have the same right as somebody with small children to care for; you can't just get the benefits of being a mum without the disadvantages
Comment by kate on October 17 14:25

I'm sure many people would like time off work to do other things for a while, or travel. The reason for maternity leave is to allow women time to bond with their babies- an important developmental stage that benefits the next generation, and to allow her time to recover from pregnancy and birth- 2 factors that are important to the individual as well as society.
Women without children do not have a medical need for time off, not is there a wider benefit for society- so why?
I'd love the opportunity to have a sabbatical, but not because I'm female- if this is to be taken seriously and not cause resentment or reinforce outdated notions of the weaker sex, then there has be equality between men and women!

Comment by Karen on October 17 14:27

I must admit, it does seem rather daft for childless women to have maternity leave. After all the reason for maternity leave is to prepare for the arrival of a baby and then spend time with the new child, adjust to a new life etc. I don't quite see how childless women should be given extra time off considering the time off won't be spent in the same way. Career break/sabbatical fair enough, but let's use the correct labels. I'm childless myself, and would like to think that when the time comes for starting a family, I have that time to adjust and prepare for a new way of life. Surely it's something to look forward to and for the childless women just have to accept that some perks aren't for them. It's all swings and roundabouts. Plus society seems to have gone stark raving mad.
Comment by Hannah on October 17 14:27

It's called MATERnity leave for a reason. I totally agree with Sarah..it is certainly not a holiday! Many women take such a short time off work as they don't get company maternity leave & others chose to take longer to care for the new born. Do you really expect a new mother to be back into work the day after having a baby! There are always career breaks for those who choose to have time off...you can't expect to get paid for an extended holiday.
Comment by Andrea on October 17 14:57

What a stupid idea! In spite of sex discrimination laws men do still think women are not as good a bet to employ because they take time off to have children. Imagine their reluctance to employ us if they thought us childless women were going to demand paid leave to go off and have a what amounts to a holiday. Women with young babies need that time off and spend it looking after their child and recovering from childbirth.
Comment by Marie on October 17 15:18

Errm... I think they are missing the point of maternity leave all together. Do you honestly think new mothers take this time off to sleep in and have time for themselves? This is the busiest time of woman's life, accompanied by complete exhaustion from both sleep deprivation and physical strain of looking after a baby, complete loss of identity etc. I think this idea is insane! I'm totally with you, Sarah!
Comment by E on October 17 15:44

This is ridiculous. Maternity leave is necessary to look after a small dependent not to relax and 'see the world'. Are women becoming so selfish that they they feel jealous that a child from zero to 6 months spends these first precious months with its mother. These kind of ideas dont bode well for the future.
Childless women who believe they are being neglected because they dont get maternity leave are obviously still children themselves.
Comment by Emma on October 17 15:48

What about Carers Leave for those trying to combine working with caring for a disabled or elderly relative.My husband is disabled and i left work to care for him full time but when i did work and needed time off when he was having a particularly bad time you should have seen the attitude i got from some bosses.One manager said we were too short staffed and then let a colleague have time off to take her 8 year old child to the dentist.And the reason we were so short staffed?Because there were two staff on maternity leave!Where are carers rights? there is currently a campaign running in the daily mirror called Caring for Carers Their website shows some carers stories . Things have to change Anyone could suddenly be thrown into the role of a carer IT COULD BE YOU
Comment by elizabeth on October 17 15:58

What happens if someone were to take 'maternity leave' when they don't have a child but then fall pregnant at a later date. Yes people have more that one child and are entitiled to maternity leave for each child but how many times could a childless person take maternity leave? And shouldn't new fathers be entitled to the same as mothers?

Comment by Kay on October 17 16:05

I've never heard anything so ridiculous! As stated above do you think that this time is taken to relax or consider new careers or participate in new hobbies? It is a time taken to recover and look after a new born and if some women decide not to have children, that is their right but don't expect to have the same rights as those women who do. You would open up a situation were men would also be entitled to the same. The world truly is going mad, and it is the mind set of people like this that make me worry about the world that I have decided to bring a child into. Political correctness and Equal rights is being taken to the limits and beyond and seems to have made the world a crazier place!
Comment by Frances on October 17 16:07

It's called maternity leave for a reason!! If you want time off to sleep in or see the world, take unpaid leave or go and get pregnant! I'm not a mum and would not think it right to claim payment and time off work because I felt like it! Such a ridiculous idea.
Comment by Gemma on October 17 16:38

Breast feeding, sore nipples (and other bits), depression, up all night every night, countless rounds of nappies, bottles, washing. Listening to crying constantly 24/7. Maternity leave is NOT a holiday!!! New babies need a person to run to their every whim every hour of the day. They need to make a bond with their primary carer too. People do not have children to get a few weeks off work! Maternity leave is not time off for ourselves nor is it a perk, its more demanding than any job I have ever had, including working nights and 12 hr shifts. As for rights, of course you have rights.....to choose wether or not to be a parent and believe me if you are not a parent yet, do enjoy your time. Because once you have a baby you NEVER have any "Time to yourself"!
Comment by sianne on October 17 16:57

I agree that both men and women should be entitled to long breaks if possible without threatening their jobs, but calling it maternity leave for childless women is pure nonsense. Call it what is would be - a prolonged holiday or sabbatical. And don't discriminate against us men: our retirement age is still greater than that of women even though our life expectancy is less and many men these days also play a dual role in earning a living and looking after their children and households.
Comment by Waldemar on October 17 17:00

Im sorry, but I thought that maternity leave was granted so that the mother could care for her new born baby, not as 'Shelley' put it too have time to for themselves.....A newborn baby is hard work and is very time consuming. Maternity leave is not a holiday. The clue is in the title 'Maternity' - the state of becoming a mother!!

I cant help but think that this idea is completely ludicrous. If you want 6 months off, take a sabitical!
Comment by GB on October 17 17:41

Having a baby is not a holiday, perhaps the non mothers should try looking after a baby that crys all night... gets cholic..starts teething...and find out how much sleep they get!!!!
Comment by clare on October 17 17:55

The whole benefits system needs turning on its head. Having children is a choice and no small undertaking however as a Single Childless (but of childbearing age) Female (SCF), I am fed up of always working late or covering weekends because others (male & female) have child related committments.(No, I don't get overtime and this probably explains why I am single and childless)! SCF's work the hardest and get no thanks. I do not agree with maternity/paternity pay/leave (and don't get me on the subject of child benefit). Having children is costly and like the rest of societies problems, we are so used to having what we can't afford! Having children is NOT a right, it is a priviledge and if more parents adhered to this principle we might have better behaved children.
My suggestion is that anyone male or female should be entitled to take a sabatical, be that to have children, to give their partner a break from the children, to do a course, to do voluntary work etc. What do you think?.......
Comment by Sarah on October 17 18:14

While I agree that us childfree have no rights compared to parents, the idea of giving 'maternity leave' rights to non-mothers in order to balance things up is ludicrous, simply because it would only serve to make all women unemployable and it is bad enough as it is at the moment for women, thanks to mothers and their 'rights'.
No, you either have rights for EVERYONE, women and men alike, or you don't bother. To just have rights for a whole gender generates resentment and is counter-productive and quite honestly sexist. Frankly I don't see why women get so much maternity leave anyway - is it really necessary for someone to be off for months?
Comment by FJ on October 17 19:22

Maternity leave is not a holiday to pursue interests and sleep in late! Looking after a baby and raising a family is more than a fulltime job on its own. If people with no children want to take time off then they can take an unpaid leave of absence from their job or have a career break.
Comment by becky on October 17 19:51

I think if they get maternity leave they shouldn't get full pay.
Comment by johanne on October 17 20:30

I think this idea is utterly ridiculous, its l Women are given time off to recover from the process of giving birth and then the non stop job of caring for a new baby, its not a holiday!
Comment by Ali on October 17 20:43

Are you all mad? Women are given maternity leave to look after a child. Its not a holiday its a full time job. The reasons women are given this time, is traditionally because the strongest bond a new born child has is with its mother. Asking for maternity leave for women without children is madness. If people want that type of flexibilty in their work life maybe they should have gone to school, worked harder, and got better paying jobs allowing them the luxuries that has to offer, including better holidays and higher salaries so as to afford time off work. Has anyone heard of paternity leave for dads? You guys are stupid.
Comment by Lorraine on October 17 21:00

I think there's a clue in the word "maternity". How can anyone possibly take maternity leave unless they are new mothers? Personally I'm sick to the back teeth of women who have chosen to keep the freedom of being childless stabbing other women in the back just because society accepts it's best for babies to have their mothers around in the early days of infancy. Women still have a less than equal time of things without making life difficult for one another. It's simple, if you want maternity leave give birth or adopt! If however you would like the right to request a six month sabbatical to pursue other interests, fine. As long as men are afforded the same rights. We can't insist on equality if we're not prepared to extend it to all.
Comment by Patti on October 17 21:24

Why should childless women get a break, the time is for new mothers to adjust and cope with motherhood.
This idea just cheapens the idea of maternity by turning it into a free for all.
Also it makes it a sexist holiday.
Comment by martin on October 17 21:49

When a woman takes maternity leave it is to take on the hardest job in the world by raising and nurturing a baby. It is a relentless job, and is the reason why many new mothers choose to return to work "for a break"!
Does this also suggest that people should be entitiled to complementary sick leave even when not sick simply because co-workers have had sick leave?
Ridiculous!
Comment by Mary on October 17 21:50

Ideas such as these are one of the reasons that our country is sluggish and unable to compete in world markets - it's the "I don't have to work but everyone owes me a living" ethos. If I were an employer I would cry myself to sleep at night.
Comment by Mandy on October 17 22:32

I am sorry but calling the maternity leave having time for themselves is absolutely ridiculous! Perhaps one of the "childless" women claiming they want to take a maternity leave should go and spend just one week sharing the life of a mother with a new-born baby. Then perhaps they would think twice calling a maternity leave - time for themselves!
Comment by Francoise on October 17 23:42

I think that if everyone whatever their sex was entitled to sabbatical leave after a given period of employement if they hadn't already used that time for maternity/paternity leave it would be fairer all round.
Comment by Kris on October 17 23:57

It is a ridiculous idea. Mother's need that time off to take care of a baby who is otherwise not able to care for themselves and not to have a holiday. It is a full time job in itself so why should women with no children be paid to have time off to have a holiday?
Comment by No name on October 18 01:17

I agree with Sarah. I'm currently on maternity leave and there is no chance of me seeing the world, pursuing ANY projects or sleeping the normal amount - forget sleeping late! I've been a childless woman up til now, and I'd have loved 6 months off work. But having it as a 6 month break is totally different to having it as maternity leave. I'm working as hard now as I ever have, and all on minimal sleep. Also, don't forget that childbirth can be very traumatic, and in the case of caesarians the woman needs time to get over having a major operation. Hardly a holiday!
Comment by Zoe on October 18 08:28

What is this 'new study'? Where did the research come from?
Comment by Ros on October 18 08:44

I agree with Sarah on how it can affect the employability of women, especially in this recession time. There will also be the fact that how many times a child less women can get that leave in her lifetime. Does it give them double time off when they decide to have a child after the six months' leave? On the other hand, organisations have provided several flexible working patterns which enable them to get any time of time off from work that suite them.
Comment by Sidney on October 18 09:09

The whole point of maternity is as the name suggests, to have a baby which takes its toll on the body and needs to bond with its parents within those important first months. What happens if you take 'non-maternity maternity leave' and then fall pregnant, what then there are so many implications and complications with this idea. I can't have children but I don't begrudge women who do and their rights..it's not a holiday and most come back to work for a rest.
Comment by Sarah on October 18 09:16

What nonsense! Why should women who choose not to have children be entitled to maternity leave? The idea of this leave is that it gives you much needed time off work to be with your baby before returning or deciding to give up work, you don't get full pay for it and those who choose not to have children should stop winging and stop behaving like children themselves! Its hard enough to return to work after having a child let alone put up with this kind of petty whining! Get a life! Not to mention the kind of comments you have to put up with if - god forbid - you need to use your annual leave entitlement to have days off when your child is sick or when you want to see sports day and nativity! We dont actually get any more special treatment than the rest of you, we have to save our leave to ensure we are able to take time off the see special events. Grow up!
Comment by Sue Anderson on October 18 09:26

This is totally ridiculous. Of course women without children should not have maternity leave (btw I am childless). Maternity leave is a necessity not a luxury.
Women are once again loosing credibility by raising a ludicrous issue in the workplace - well done!

Comment by Rebecca on October 18 13:06

I completely agree with "Sarah on October 16 16:02". The whole point of "maternity" leave is to provide the best start possible to the next generation and although I don't have any children myself I know that many mothers would be insulted by the idea that this time is a holdiay for themselves; my friends have all been absolutely shattered by sleepless nights and the emotional and physical effects following pregnancy. Giving 6 months paid leave for all women could seriously affect the viability of many small businesses and why stop there? It would be positive discrimination to give women this time and not men! p.s. if you have to battle with your man when you get home maybe you're with the wrong one!
Comment by Charley on October 18 13:15

I think the clue is in the name...its time off to look after a small helpless baby round the clock (which I might add that some mothers do not use, its optional). You are also paid a bare minimum for the majority of the time (about £400/month), unless your employer chooses to add some to the government stipulated amount - so I fail to understand why so many people think this is some kind of paid 'jolly'. If you've not had a baby and want time off, take some unpaid leave like everyone else - or give every woman maternity leave but make those that havent had a baby look after one that's motherless...
Comment by Tayo on October 18 14:28

i just watched an old wife swap episode with a woman with 7 kids under the age of 10. so, if i choose not to have 7 kids do i get 3.5 years of maternity leave?
i'd like the child support too please.
Comment by Sara on October 18 16:05

I can't believe I'm actually reading this! Maternity leave for childless women ... whatever next??
Comment by Lynda on October 18 16:54

This is a stupid idea, if non-pregnant woman can take 6 months off then why shouldn't men be able to? Throughout the months they will be doing exactly the same as men.

Women taking 6 months off is a good idea, even if I don't like it, the company has to pay for the woman to be pregnant, but then someone would have to. A pregnant woman shouldn't have to work.

A normal woman should.

There is absolutely no reason why non-pregnant woman should get leave.

Comment by Joseph on October 18 19:10

I think this is completely crazy. I don't have children and I would never expect to be given time off for no reason. Having a baby means you need the time not only to adjust but to nurse your child. It is a priority. Having time off just cos 'its not fair' sound like people trying to abuse this PC society and get some time off!
Comment by Alexlexandra on October 18 19:26

Are you joking?

It's called "MATERNITY" leave for a reason. Because the individual in question has a newborn to take care of.

And NO, this -isn't- a fair world. Sweet Christ did you not learn that when you were a child? Taking care of an infant is a demanding and stressful responsibility.

To presume that only women who have an infant can qualify in spite of the fact that "anyone can have a baby" is mind-blazingly ridiculous. So just because every woman has a vagina sounds even LESS reasonable.

Because that's really the rationalization they're making.


Comment by lol on October 18 19:27

Maternity leave is not time off. The first few months with a new baby are the hardest work a person, male or female can do. Allowing childless women time to "pursue other interests" and potentially "enhance their job prospects" is only making it harder for mothers who want to work and are already given a bum deal by too many employers who would prefer women not to have children.
Comment by Esther on October 18 19:51

Are you KIDDING ME? Why is it that MEN are expected to do all the work while women claim equality? So you want HALF THE YEAR off work? I have an idea ladies. LEAVE AND DON'T COME BACK. Take a FOREVER materity leave. We men will get back to doing what we do best...BEING PRODUCTIVE
Comment by Sandman on October 18 19:52

Think I may be missing the point... but you have maternity leave to look after your new born baby, nuture them, feed them, play with them, teach them about the world they are growing up in. Having 'maternity leave' is not a holiday, its hard work, physically and emotionally. The changes you go through as a woman are incredible, you have another human being to look after - so you cant switch off, go shopping, lie in, take off without a care in the world.... It just doesnt work like that!
Comment by Vic on October 18 19:55

I find this absaloutley ridiculous! The time after a woman has had a baby is not for herself it is to look after a new born baby and get back into a routine where she is able to work at a sufficient level again. If childless women are going to be given half the year off then men will be entitled to this right also and everone will only be working half the year!!
If you want time to "sleep late and have time for yourself" then get a part time job!
Comment by Cheryl on October 18 20:06

It's a woman's body and a woman's choice, not the employer's obligation. These pampered childwomen treat their employers like alleged fathers: "Gimme or else!"
Comment by Disposable Manslave on October 18 21:17

A childless woman getting six months maternity leave makes about as much sense as me collecting WCB money for an injury I didn't get, or being on welfare even though I have a stable job.

While we're at it, let's give straight A's to kids who fail tests, and gold medals for athletes who come in last place.

If you women want "equality", you should be campaigning for equal rights of men getting paternity leave.

But you don't want equality. You want SPECIAL PRIVILEGE.

For shame.
Comment by BJ on October 18 21:48

Don't be stupid! Grow up.
Comment by LP on October 18 21:57

Wait... If a childless wimmn gets 6 months off, I, a male, want 6 months off too. If I don't get this request, it will not only hurt my feeeeeelings, but it will prove the vile existence of the oppressive 'MATRIARCHY' which has oppressed us men for so long. I might even cry rape too! That's equality! EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT, YAY!
Comment by Max on October 18 23:16

It seems like every day I read one thing that just makes me go "wow, are there people that are actually like this?" This is today's item. Maternity leave is, by definition, for MOTHERS. If you don't have a kid, you are not a mother, and are therefore (by definition) not entitled to maternity leave. Why on earth should any employer just let you have 6 months off for no apparent reason?
Comment by wow on October 19 00:21

I think Shelleys comments are in the minority here, why do you think they should be "entitled" to leave?? This sounds so illogical and stupid its beyond belief, only those with shelleys "way of thinking" would possibly deem this a viable option!!

Women have far more rights than men in allsorts of situations (legal for one) and yet you want "more" and deem this acceptable??

Get a grip and smell whats cooking in the world, also check some mes sites out as a lot, AND I MEAN A LOT are quite annoyed about the behaviour and discrimnatory behaviour that we are seeing more and more of!
Comment by Nick on October 19 00:54

I do not think chidless women should have materinty leave, why should they have 6 months to pursue their pleasure, woman who have children are looking after their babies, giving them bonding time, not travelling around for pleasure.
Comment by Jean on October 19 01:34

I'm a businesswoman and I run my own small business with a total of eight employees. If a childless woman, tries to get maternity leave, I would do everything in my power to fire her as she would be unproductive and costing the business for not doing any work. That is all I have to say about this.
Comment by Emily on October 19 02:20

Do people honestly think Maternity Leave is a HOLIDAY, i was constanly sick throught out my pregnancy and then after having my beautiful daughter, you are on the go all the time and there is very little sleep. My daughter is now twenty,and I now get to have a sleep in on a Sunday. MATERNITY LEAVE IS NO HOLIDAY. and no i do not think childless women should be allowed maternity leave.
Comment by Michelle on October 19 09:02

I totally agree with Sarah. Unless you have been in the position of looking after a baby 24/7 you have no idea what's it's like. I went back to work early for a rest. Yes it was my choice to have a baby but it was constant. The small respite when she was asleep I slept having been woken every 2 hours through the night. To non-mothers enjoy your freedom and your job - if you don't like your job get another one.
Comment by Laura on October 19 09:21

This is ridiculous. The whole point of maternity leave is to have time to recover and adjust to being a mum as well as to bond with the baby. If you dont have a baby, why would you need maternity leave, it's not just a holiday!!! Also if certain people do think childless women should be entitled then why shouldn't men? I think the idea is an insult to women who have children.
Comment by Lisa on October 19 09:50

I cannot believe this is even being considered. When I didn't have children I never would have expected my boss to give me six months off to do what I pleased. Does this not negate - as well - the principle of maternity leave? Women need to recuperate after pregnancy and birth, care for a newborn, breastfeed and adjust to the changes that motherhood brings. Personally I wouldn't have my partner do night feeds as he was off working - if I had to work myself I wouldn't be in the best condition for it given how little sleep I was getting (I'm back to work now incidentally and still have many a sleepless night but I soldier on!). All these reasons and more make maternity leave so necessary. New mums hardly have time for a shower let alone a stroll or to pursue personal interests. If you want time off work, leave your job. If you want to keep your job - go to work! And pursue those other interests in your personal time (evenings and weekends and your annual leave). God knows, I would love some personal time myself - my evenings and weekends are spent on job number two! And I have to work to support my family - another reason why people who choose not to have a family might possibly (depending obviously on their lifestyle and income) have the flexibility to leave work for a while. And I agree with what's been said about men - it's bad enough men don't get paternity leave [where I live] - but rub it in their faces why don't you by saying women without children get to have extra time off just for being women.
Comment by Meg on October 19 10:02

We cannot look at Maternity Leave as a career break. That is not its function.

Maternity (and/or paternity) leave is offered because a parent needs time to bond with a child, start raise a child, to ensure that child has a bright start that will lead to a bright future. It's also a time and an opportunity to look at whatever future employment might mean to that parent.

People without a need for time to raise a child simply do not need this period of time, especially in the current economic climate.

If people without children want a career break, then maybe there should be opportunities (employer specific) to take a career break. But to imagine that we'd treat Maternity Lave - our right - like it's time "owed" to everyone is outrageous.
Comment by Steph on October 19 10:06

Why is everything a case of they have it why cant i, it is not a holiday for people with kids so why should it be for others. Get a life & stop whinging about everything, its pathetic.
Comment by Jackie on October 19 10:22

I think child free(can we have less of the "childless" please, for many women it is a lifestyle choice) women and men should be allowed more flexibility in the workplace.I know of a significant number of women who regularly use the excuse that their child is sick to get time off work when their children are well. There are a genuine mothers out there, I dont doubt this but the mothers who abuse the system do not have these days added to their sick leave. If I had taken this amount of "unofficial"time off, I would have been penalised.
Comment by Jacqueline on October 19 10:57

Can't believe this story! I had 6 months off after both my children were born which was a combination of maternity leave, annual leave and unpaid leave. We all needed it - both me and the children. Colic, poor sleeping patterns, maternal depression all combined to make this one of the most stressful periods of my life and although I love my kids dearly I would not want to repeat this. The idea that this was some kind of "luxury" or that I was being granted time off to enjoy myself is so off base as not to be true. New mothers are struggling to do an incredible job and need all the support they can get. If we want a debate about sabatical leave then let's have one but let's not confuse this with the need for maternity leave.
Comment by Kim on October 19 11:03

Good grief has the world gone completely mad, girls if you want 6/12 months off, either take a sabbatical or get pregnant, why on earth would you expect the rest of us to pay for an extra jolly.

Perhaps you should get child allowance, and tax relief, and why stop there maybe disabled benefits or care in the home, mortgage tax relief without a mortgage, the list is endless.

Even in this politically correct mad country this seems extreme.
Comment by Andi on October 19 11:23

Maternity leave is becoming a thorny issue, especially in the current economic climate and in view of other first world countries which do not offer women the same rights as in the UK. Arguably, there are some women that "work" the system by taking the full leave and then coming back for the minimum time required and then resigning to become a full-time mum. However, maternity leave is essential for those women who choose to have children and I agree that it is by no means a holiday (unless you have a full-time nanny in place the minute you get back from the hospital). I am certainly intending to exercise my rights when I start out down the family path. However, maternity leave for childless women? Are you joking? I fully agree with the post from Lizzie. Where would it be "fair" to draw the line. Personally, I think 2 weeks for new dads is a bit of an outrage. If childless people want a career break (and let's not kid ourselves, having children IS a career break), they should join a firm that offers some kind of sabbatical system. Giving childless women six months off is not equivalent to maternity leave - after six months, they just go back to work, not having to juggle a career AND children.
Comment by Harriet on October 19 11:24

Maternity leave should be for parents who need to care for a baby not for people who wants to take time off "to pursue other interests", then becomes time off not maternity leave. People who suggests this kind of things obviously doesn't have a clue about how much time and effort a new baby entitles and maternity leave it's certainly not a holiday where you have time to pursue other interests apart from caring for your newborn. Grow up!
Comment by Julia on October 19 11:47

Not necessarily maternity leave, but with never claiming 'family allowance'or any other money from the 'state' perhaps what would have been collected for a child this allowance should be a contribution towards the state pension and collected at the usual retirement age.
Ali

Comment by Ali on October 19 12:47

I'd love to be able to say that the 6 months new mothers get off is 'to them-selves' but for some reason I don't think it is.
Comment by Toni on October 19 13:03

what is a childless woman, how can you guarantee she wont have a child later on any way????? not to mention maternity leave is not a holiday but mainly for health and safety reasons in other countries women are not even allowed by law to work for a certain period before and after the due date, because of health and safety reasons. after both my children i tore really badly simply due to neglect at the hospital and had infections in my uterus which can if untreated kill as that is what was know as child bed fever and i also had an infection in my breast so could not feed or even look after my first baby very well in the first couple of week so how does this compare to a "childless woman" wanting time off for fun, having a baby is a trauma for your body physically and mentally that you need time to recover and adjust to. employers should instead give decent leave for father to support their partners as 2 weeks are not enough to recover from bad tears, infections not to mention a c-section all things you can not anticipate or plan for.
Comment by sylvia on October 19 13:15

There certainly should be more concessions made for women (and men) who do not take birth related absences from work. As a child-free woman (note the difference child less infers a lack, child-free denotes a specific choice) I am fed up to the back teeth of watching my colleagues getting a year off work, being paid for it and comeing back to work to become pregnant again s few months later and take another year off work. In addition whilst on mat leave new mothers accrue holidays which they then use up either before they come back to work, making their mat leave almost 14 months, or during the time they come back meaning they are absent far more than everyone else. In the meantime who is left to cover and fill the gap, yes, those of us who don't have children.

Furthermore in this economic climate of contraction (no pun intended), recession and redundancies a woman on maternity leave is protected over her colleagues who have been doing all the work whilst she is enjoying a year's leisure in any redundancy situation, what a crock !

Do I think non parents deserve a break, damn right I do. Should it be time off called materntiy leave, undoubtedly not !

What this country needs to do is start giving tax breaks to people who don't take child related leave and cap maternity leave at 3 months so that the long lazy days of Mummy and toddler groups are less inviting. By all means give mothers time to recover, but a year is too long, 3 months would be good, even women who have had a section can drive after 6 weeks. Then at the end of the 3 months, if you still want to be off playing babies, leave and let someone who does want to work have a job !
Comment by Catherine on October 19 13:22

What a total load of Rubbish... whatever next!

This is just time off because "i feel like it" I dont have kids, but would like them, but if I wanted six months off work do something else, then I would expect to have to arrange it with my employer as a Sabbatical or leave my job.

Maternity & Paternity Leave is Crucial Job, giving your child the best start in their life by being with them. Fathers have as much right to this as mothers and should be allowed equal time off work, with the same rules applied!

This whole new idea is ridiculous. If you want 6 months off to do something else - take a sabbatical and call it just that.

This country is really going to pot and no wonder so many people are emigrating away from it!

Comment by Donna on October 19 13:32

This is completely ridiculous and a sign of over the top PC-ness. The world is going mad. If you want six months off work then take a career break or a sabbatical.
Comment by Rebs on October 19 14:18

Absolutely not! What a ludicrous idea. Women are not on holiday when they go on Maternity leave, they are often sleep deprived and exhausted.
If we want a fair world then men with children should perhaps be allowed maternity leave instead of their wives if he is going to be the one looking after the baby(not just the 2 weeks paternity leave)
If women without children need leave from work then invent a new benefit for them.

We have become mad in our idea of fairness.
Comment by Sharon ormrod on October 19 14:18

OK, firstly, not all childless women are childless through choice, Sue Anderson - some of us are not able to have children through no fault of our own, such as myself. so thanks for your vitriolic condemnation there. Secondly, this is an article in a women's magazine, so it's obviously going to be slanted towards women - does it actually say the 'study' excluded men, or have MC just picked out the 'relevant to women' bits? Thirdly, the use of the phrase 'maternity leave' is misleading in relation to childless women, but gives a standard everyone recognises for reasons of comparison. But, maybe there is a viable debate to allowing women to take sabbatical leave on similar payment terms to those women on maternity leave. And yes, men too, and paternity leave is a whole other debate. No-one was saying maternity leave is a holiday, the implication was the lying in, travelling etc is what the childless women would do with their leave. Women choose to have children, it's not an illness or anything foisted upon them, and so why should they automatically have more 'rights' than someone like myself who has no choice in the matter?
Comment by pennie on October 19 14:42

The prospective idea of "non-mothers" taking MATERNITY leave is absurd. The entire point of this leave is so that a person, who's just given birth to a newborn, be able to care for that child in it's first months of life. And also to heal from giving birth. Why in the world would a person, who's not gone through this, be entitled to their so called right. Anyone who calls this a vacation is certainly out of their minds. I could barely clean my house or carry on with daily activities. I'm so angry at some of these posts. You "non-mothers" are ridiculous. So some of you CHOOSE not to have children; good for you! You have it easy enough anyways. You do NOT deserve to take half the year off of work! For a damn vacation.
Comment by Alexis on October 19 15:39

It's called a sabbatical. Most professional companies offer this for all staff. Don't underestimate how much moves on while you're away though - I've had maternity leave twice (7 months each time), and while I've been away key responsbilities have been passed on to other people, some of my senior sponsors have left and their replacements don't know who I am...to an extent you have to start from scratch everytime - worth it for a baby, but is it worth it for 6 months on the beach?
Comment by Hels on October 19 15:53

I don't need back surgery, but I'd still like 3 months off for it. This "study" is a perfect example of PCness gone completely crazy. Let's not offend the childless women, please. Where this sense of entitlement comes from, I have no idea.
Comment by AmazedByMorons on October 19 15:55

Yes, I think all employees - men as well as women - should be entitled to some time off to pursue other projects. I believe strongly that having children is fundamentally a lifestyle choice, and in that sense not so very different from deciding to go to South America for six months or write your magnum opus (and before anyone writes an outraged post, yes I know that in other ways it's very, very different and probably much more challenging!).
In a way, this leave debate is not dissimilar to the discussion to be had about short-term flexible-work issues for people without children. It seems unfair to me that while it's deemed acceptable for a person with children to take the afternoon off to, for example, watch their child in a school play, someone requesting an afternoon off to give support to a friend who, let's say, was having a private view of their amateur artworks, would probably be given very short shrift. It seems to me that there is a bit of a double standard operating when it comes to those with children and those without.
Comment by Jacqui on October 19 16:26

Maternity leave is for mothers.

I think that squeezing something the size of a melon out of a hole the size of a lemon can hardly be compared to 'an extended holiday'. As long as the provision is there for all who need it, I don't think there's anything to complain about.

To childless women who feel bitter about this, comfort yourself with the knowledge that you at least get to enjoy your yearly holiday allowance while we spend it mopping sick, covering childcare and suffering at holiday parks :)
Comment by Kelly on October 19 17:10

I'm sorry but i don't think they should be allowed because my poor husband only got two weeks with our son until he had to be back at work so if a MAN can only have two weeks of WITH a child then why should a woman be allowed with no children??????
Comment by melissa on October 19 17:58

After reading all the comments, I am further proven that all western women are nothing but spoiled children who think society is nothing more than one giant day care designed to take care of them. I also love the comments that lament men as "EVIL" and label them the all mighty antagonist.

Whatever, i'm in Thailand living it up, you can have your femocracy and watch it go bankrupt with the rest of UK/Amerikkka/CanaDUH
Comment by Aaron swanson on October 19 20:05

At the end of the day my husband didnt choose to become disabled and so i didnt choose to become a carer.Pregnancy and having children is a choice.Disability isnt.We didnt choose this yet we dont get the same support and time off that parents do This does not seem fair to me and it is something that could happen to anyone so the laws and rights HAVE to change
Comment by elizabeth on October 20 00:09

This is fantastic idea! With all those women out of the office so much more would get done and it would then be obvious to the management of all companies' what is obvious to all male workers - women don't do anything anyway.
Comment by John on October 20 15:56

The reason society awards and protects maternity rights is around twin societal benefits:
- society in the long run depends on raising a new generation, if for no other reason than to pay our pensions
- making it easier for women to work and be mothers ensures their education and skills remain available to employers.

It's nothing to do with giving anyone time off that they somehow, as an individual, deserve. People who want to take a career break to go travelling, volunteer or write a book are, quite rightly,
- at the mercy of their employer
- to be considered equally regardless of gender
Comment by RJ on October 20 16:42

I'm not sure why women feel entitled to getting a break just for the sake of being born that way. If you don't want to work, quit your job and let a man take it.
Comment by Sean on October 20 16:49

Yes - give childless women maternity leave - and come to think of it - let everybody claim pension when they want to - I mean that is completely ageist only allowing OAPs to claim it...

...Oh and what about Disability Benefits? It's not fair that only people with disabilities can clam that, and Child Benefits, I don't have a kid, but so?...

...Oh whilst we're at it I want to have some Compassionate Leave because the girl next to me lost her great great aunt twice-removed recently.... it's not my fault nobody in my family died since 1999.....

The secret to Maternity Leave is in the name - "maternity". The only suggestion I would make is to change the title to "Paternal" leave - the only others who should have this honour are the fathers.
Comment by Miss Lloyd on October 21 12:14

Hi,
I think that everyone should be entitled to a work sabbatical, saying that childless women should be entitled to maternity leave is ridiculous. Oh and btw I have taken time off work to travel, had time off work when moving to a different country and also maternity leave and believe me maternity leave is the hardest I have ever worked.

Janine.
Comment by Janine on October 21 13:37

I don't think anyone is saying that having a baby is a holiday, and I certainly don't believe that. However, I do believe that having children is a choice and, in that sense, very similar to making the choice to travel the world, start your own business etc (and to anyone about to post furiously against me, yes I know that in many other senses having children is very different!). Perhaps calling it 'maternity leave' is muddying the waters here, but I think that requests to do life-changing things other than have children should be considered just as seriously and given equal weight. I think the world of work is in some ways biased towards those with children, as some posts have mentioned; it doesn't seem fair that someone with children is given time off no questions asked to see their child in the school play or take them to the dentist, when I know that a request from someone to take time off to support their partner or good friend by watching THEM in a play or taking them for a medical appointment would get very short shrift. I'm not saying that people who are pregnant or have children should have fewer rights at work, just that everyone makes choices and everyone has responsibilities and the world of work should, in my opinion, try harder to accommodate them all rather than showing a bias towards those with children.
Comment by Jacqui Lewis on October 21 13:42

There is a reason its called MATERNITY LEAVE!!! How silly. If you want to take a sabatical then so be it, but don't complain that mothers get maternity leave. The sensible thing would be to give fathers more paid paternity leave then parents could split the amount of time off they have from their employer. For all those women who think that having maternity leave means that you get time to yourself - you are dreaming, sleepless nights, two hourly feeds and nappy changes are not relaxing!
Comment by Simone on October 21 13:45

Maternity leave is exactly that ie. for a mother to be/mother if you are not one then no of course employers should not have to grant you maternity leave - how ridiculous. If you wish to sleep late blah blah blah then maternity leave is most definatley the wrong title - I think the word you are looking for is holiday.

Comment by Emma on October 21 19:39

This is another ridiculous idea. The UK is losing it.
Comment by kate on October 23 10:08

Actually, the last time I checked, the world was NOT, in fact fair -- nor is the small amount of time parents can take off when they have or adopt a baby. Before I had kids, I had a similar view. Now I know - you are not lunching every day; you get no sleep. I've worked my whole life and have never worked harder than when I was on mat leave.
I'm all for it if the people without kids who take mat leave must do it with no pay and are required to volunteer full-time at a daycare; not taking employment insurance would make up for the fact that they'd get to sleep all night and take a shower every morning.
Not having kids is absolutely your choice, and I was close enough to not having kids myself to absolutely respect that. But you might want to consider that those of us who do are raising the people that will be taking care of you in your old age.
Comment by Karin on October 24 19:49

I think it's a bit of a ridiculous suggestion.
To help with the economy, and to help the carers of children, I think a better idea would be for women to be able to split their maternity leave- taking 3 months at around the time of the birth, and another three months when the child is between the age of one and three. I have a two year old, she is more difficult to look after than a new baby!
Comment by Ellen Clayton on October 25 16:32

I think mothers should get a maternity leave, but anyone who thinks that this should apply to non-mothers obviously has no idea what the circumstances are or the origin of maternity leave. it is a practice that gave employers an option other than paying salary for or firing their female employees when they became pregnant. It was designed for the job security of the mother to be preserved, not to give her time off and "reward" her for becoming a mom. Entitlement is becoming a huge issue in this country. You want days off? Mental Disability leave is an option for you, because you're *&*&*g stupid.
Comment by ASCHUS on October 26 14:59

Women without kids are NOT entitled to Maternity Leave. If you do not have a child, you do not get it. It is simple as that. Its not a public holiday, its not 4 weeks off by law a year as per the EU. It is there so that you can rise a child, not sod off for months on a paid vacation.

Maybe all single men childless men should get Maternity Leave, hey its only 'fair' (life is not fair). Yea, lets get 25% the work force out on a paid vacation for months on end at the employers or tax payers expense.

The fact that 74% of women support this says to me 74% of womens reality is currently orbiting Jupiter.

Why not just go "hey I want to get paid for doing no work at all! (oh and house work at home isn't work. I'm single, I have my own place and that means I do it all after work, oh woe is me, I need free money from the government for actually keeping my house in order and my clothes clean.)

Give me a break.
Comment by Chris on October 27 18:14

Why do most people who have commented on here think women who go on maternity to have a child are having time to themselves, i've just had a baby and let me tell you it's hard work not only looking after the baby but trying to keep a house running smooth too. Maternity time is essential time to get back to normal health wise after giving birth and also to help your child into the world. Why should childless women be given time off to have a 'break' from work it's rediculous, my husband got 2 weeks off when our child was born, the government should look at changing paternity rights before looking at 'childless' rights
Comment by Laura on November 09 15:29

If you want six months off without having a baby, here's what you do:

Quit your job. Clearly you don't want to be there anyway.
Comment by Noize on November 11 15:05

"Not having kids is absolutely your choice, and I was close enough to not having kids myself to absolutely respect that. "

Once again, this is such a blinkered view - how many women do you think there are out there who find out they can't have children, and there is nothing they can do about it? And how many of those do you think could have gone to their employers and said, " I've just had some devastating and life changing news, and I need some time off to assimilate that, come to terms with it, have some counselling or do whatever I need to do so that I can accept it and get on with my new life without wanting to cry every time I see a maternity bump or a pushchair"? And if they did, how many employers would be supportive? Actually, the people with the choices here are those women who DO have children, not the other way around. And don't try kidding me your children are going to pay my pension when we all know there will be no state pensions by the time we retire. And even if they did contribute, don't you think I would much rather have my own children to look after me then?
Comment by pennie on November 17 12:50

I resent the implications that maternity leave is a holiday and that women who choose to have babies are just skiving off work. For me having a baby and looking after a baby all of the time has been the toughest job I've ever done and I'll admit that I've struggled with the constant demands of being a new mother. You don't get a break when you're a mother, let alone have any time to be swarming off on holiday or travelling. If you're tired, ill or stressed, you don't get any time off from your duties. So suggesting that childless women should be paid for taking the same time off as people who have babies to look after is ludicrous in my opinion. Maternity leave should be kept for new mothers who are struggling to fit their newborns into their daily routines because it can come as a real shock for new mothers who don't know what to expect and take time to adjust to their new lives. Women without children obviously don't know how much effort and demands is required of you both emotionally, physically and mentally when you have a baby. Maternity leave is a necessity not a privellage. If childless women want time off work to pursue other interests or for other reasons then why can't they just take annual leave or extended leave. But don't call it maternity leave, call it something different because taking a holiday is completely different to needing to take time off to care for your little baby.
Comment by Megan on December 27 19:34