18 months of parental leave: Would it work?

The Conservatives announced on Wednesday they would match a Liberal party pledge to extend parental leave to 18 months.But, what does it really mean for mothers, fathers and the businesseswho employ them?

Marina Adshade, a professor inUBC'sSchool of Economicsand Jeff Robinson from Kelowna's Chamber of Commerce, broke down the policies in an interviewon CBC Radio's Daybreak South.

At first glance, the UBC professornotedthe policies appear to be a positive stepby offering parents job security beyond the current maximum of 50 weeks forparentalleave, but she points out the newly promisedbenefits would only stretch that bit of pay to 61weeks.

"The extended parental leave appeals to people because it sounds like they're getting something they weren't getting before... but really, these programs are costless to the government," said Adshade. "They're not offering more money."

That's where some of the drawbacks begin.

From an employer's perspective, Robinsonbelievesthepolicywould beparticularly toughon small businessesbecause of the challenges withreplacingand reintegrating parents coming back from leave.

Adshade alsosaidit's unlikelywomen, who make a lower income,willbe able to take advantage of theadded leave.

"If your benefit is $200 a week, I don't see you spreading it out over that 18-month period."

For parents who earn ahigher income, whichAdshade estimatesat$80,000 a year, she doesn't foresee them extending their leave either, since benefits would be capped at around $350 a week.

"There's thisnarrow rangeof women in the middle who might see it as beingworthwhile. It's looking like we're moving towards a Nordic model where families are being supported more when their children are young, but I don't really think that's the case," said Adshade.

Where the parties diverge

There are two key differences between the Conservativeand Liberal parties'promises.

The firstapplies to self-employed parents: the Conservatives will allow them to supplement benefits with self-employment incomeup to$50,800 annually the maximumweeklyEI insurable earnings threshold.

The second differenceis the Liberal party's promise thatparents will be allowed to go back to workduring theirparental leave fora bit and then finish the remainder ofthe18 monthsat a later date.

Robinson felt the moreflexible leave policies might lead to "happier" employees andAdshadeagreed it couldfacilitate a"smoother transition" back to work.

She does warn, though,research from countries with longer maternity leavehas shown women become more separatedfrom the workforce,have moredifficulty reintegrating and are more likely to become part-time workers instead.

"There's a real cost to them in their long-time careers in terms of their lifetime income. The year you take off now, the 18 months ... affects your earning over the rest of your work life."

To hear the full interview listen to theaudiolabelledWhat an 18 month parental leave policy really meanswiththeCBC'sChris WalkeronDaybreak South.