A software developer is leading the way: Starting next year, SAP will grant the partner a full six weeks of leave following the birth of a child. The company made this decision on its own initiative to demonstrate “that balancing family life and advancing one’s career are not mutually exclusive.” In doing so, SAP is preempting a proposed law that Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus has been trying to push through Parliament for months.
FDP Opposes the Bill
Under the proposed law, the second parent would be granted 10 days of leave from work following the birth. In the case of single parents, the mother would be able to choose someone to provide initial support. Currently, the second parent must either take vacation time or use part of their parental leave for this period. During the leave period, full pay would continue to be provided.
These are the plans of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. The law could take effect as early as 2024. The FDP is currently still opposed to the funding model. The wages and salaries that continue to be paid are to be reimbursed to the employer through a pay-as-you-go system similar to that used for maternity benefits. Although employers initially pay the full salary, they are reimbursed proportionally by health insurance companies. This must be subsidized by the government. The coalition is not in agreement on this point. The plans were supposed to be discussed by the cabinet as early as May. As of late September, no new date for the deliberations has been set. That’s how deadlocked the coalition dispute over the “family start period” has become.
Metal and Electrical Industry Collective Bargaining Agreements Offer Leave
Like SAP, other companies also view time off after childbirth positively, particularly with a view to offering attractive working conditions when recruiting skilled workers. The figures confirm this: the majority of companies do not oppose the proposal. According to a survey by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, nearly three-quarters of the companies surveyed consider the proposal to be a good thing. In metal and electrical companies covered by IG Metall, paid leave of one to three days following childbirth has long been universally regulated in collective bargaining agreements. However, the union maintains that this is not yet sufficient.
IG Metall is calling for the law to be implemented as quickly as possible and for health insurance companies to receive subsidies. The goal is to further promote the balance between family and work. Many employees report the strain that parents face, especially during the demanding period following childbirth. While they must cope with the challenges of caring for a newborn, want to enjoy time together—especially during this phase—and need to find a shared rhythm, without the planned “Family Start Period,” they still face the burden of submitting last-minute leave requests or applying for parental allowance. Since parental allowance is capped at 1,800 euros, many are already suffering financial losses during this time. Any special payments they might otherwise receive may be lost.
Parents Report Strains
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus aims to support families through these days off. After the birth of their first child, she notes, parents set the course for how they balance family and work responsibilities. However, she adds, the gap between aspiration and reality is wide for many families. “With a ‘parenting start period,’ we are now also creating a safe and supportive space for the first intensive phase with a newborn child, strengthening family cohesion, and providing an important impetus for the equitable sharing of responsibilities within families.”
The fact that men have long wanted to devote more time to childcare is also evident in the survey conducted by the Ministry of Family Affairs. One in two fathers would like to take on half of the childcare responsibilities. However, it is also a fact that currently 75 percent of fathers take a maximum of two months of parental leave. The “Family Start Period” could help make it easier for fathers or partners to transition into shared childcare responsibilities.
Parental Leave, Parental Allowance (Plus), Partnership Bonus—Key Information at a Glance
Parent Information Packet with Checklist and Sample Applications
