International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2006

By Professor Peter Moss and Professor Margaret O’Brien (editors)

Provides an overview of leave policies and related research in 22 countries. It follows discussions held at the International Leave Policy and Related Research Network seminar in London in November 2005.

The Network covers policies for parents and others with care responsibilities, including for adult relatives, as well as policies available to the whole population such as career breaks and time accounts. But initially, priority is being given to leave policies focused on the care of children. Among the purposes of this network are: the exchange of information about policies, both in individual countries and by international organisations, and research on leave policies; the provision of a forum for the cross-national discussion of issues and trends in policy and research.

The report sets out information on leave policy and research in 22 countries: Australia; Belgium; Canada; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Norway; Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; The Netherlands; the United Kingdom and the United States.

The report also includes papers on the impact of parental leave policies on child well-being; parental leave policies for mothers and fathers's: children's perspectives and well-being and a special paper on leave policies and early childhood services in Hungary.

(UK Dept of Trade and Industry. Employment Market Analysis and Research. Employment Relations Research Series no 57, 2006)