Allowances for new parents in other countries — and how Bermuda compares:

Bermuda:

Women are entitled to a minimum of 12 weeks' maternity leave, subject to conditions, under the Employment Act 2000. Eight weeks are paid and four weeks are unpaid.

The Act does not provide for paternity leave although some employers provide this at their own discretion.

Employees covered by the Bermuda Industrial Union's collective bargaining agreement with Government are entitled to 12 weeks maternity leave on full pay, subject to conditions. Male employees are entitled to up to five days per year for paternity leave.

Workers covered by the Bermuda Public Services Union's agreement are entitled to up to 18 weeks' maternity leave – 15 paid and three unpaid – subject to certain conditions.

Special leave, with pay, for up to one week may be granted at the discretion of the Secretary to the Cabinet to fathers of newborn babies during the first few weeks of the baby's birth.

United Kingdom:

Women are entitled to one year on maternity leave, with statutory maternity pay of £117.18 per week (around $208) or 90 percent of their average weekly earnings – whichever is less – for up to 39 weeks of that. Men are entitled to up to two weeks of paid paternity leave.

United States:

The United States a does not provide paid leave for new mothers nationally, though there are exceptions in some states.

The U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act provides for 12 weeks of job-protected leave unpaid, but it only covers those who work for larger companies. Some companies choose to offer new parents up to six weeks' paid leave.

Canada:

The employment standards legislation of all Canadian jurisdictions provides for a minimum period of unpaid maternity leave for eligible pregnant employees.

This period is 18 weeks in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan and 17 weeks in all other jurisdictions.

This leave can usually be supplemented by adding a period of parental leave. Some employers allow longer periods off.