I got "paternity leave" when my kids were born in the late 80's / early 90's. They typically gave 3 days off with pay on a moment's notice. I saw them give other men more when babies or Mom's had complications in birth. Shoot, they gave me some comp days and didn't make me count vacation when my granddaughter was born and had to go in NICU for 10 days ("Go be with your family" was all that was said).
No Government mandates - just a good loyalty building investment from a company that had to compete in the free market for my continuing services. It worked - I worked there for 25 years and never so much as interviewed for another company...unusual for a high tech industry. Many, many 10+ year employees. And we paid it back by working extra (all salaried people) covering for others when their time came.
Insurance under group employer plans usually do cover maternity (if it is a reasonable plan). That’s ok because the group shares the risk and makes it a little less expensive.
But for an individual man to have to pay for maternity is not reasonable.
Exactly. I just stored up and then took a week’s vacation for 3 births. Storing up some days for #4 right now.