title: Barefoot and in a German kitchen: federal parental leave and benefit policy and the return to work after childbirth in Germany.
abstract: "Since 1979 German federal maternity leave and benefit policy has given women incentives to stay at home and take care of their newborn and youngest children. In 1986 this leave and benefit policy was changed in several ways, turning it into a powerful instrument for delaying mothers' return to work after childbirth.... We estimate post childbirth return to work hazards for women during the federally protected leave protection period and immediately upon completion of this leave period.  During the leave mothers are less likely to return to work the longer is the time left in the leave protection period; however, this result cannot be attributed generally to high levels of maternity benefits.  When the leave protection period ends, mothers with strong labor force attachment who are still on leave return to their jobs."
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ondrich
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Spiess
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D002654:Child Care; D002668:Child Rearing; D019049:Developed Countries; D004467:Economics; D004651:Employment; D005060:Europe; D016656:Family Planning Policy; D005858:Germany; D006280:Health Workforce; D009042:Motivation; D011640:Public Policy; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Behavior; Child Care; Child Rearing; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Employment Status--women; Europe; Family Policy; Germany; Human Resources; Incentives; Labor Force--women; Maternity Benefits; Microeconomic Factors; Policy; Social Policy; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Western Europe