U.S. Lags in Parental Benefits

April 19 -- Federal law only requires companies with 50 or more workers to give new mothers 12 weeks leave — and that's without pay.

Is that enough, or is more needed?

A government study on child care and kids' behavior out today is raising questions, and some eyebrows, about whether day care leads to acting out in young children. The federal report links long hours of early day care away from mothers to higher test scores, but also to increased aggression and misbehavior in kindergarten.

Around the World

When it comes to job guarantees for new parents, the United States is the least generous of the industrialized nations.

In Sweden, a new mother gets 80 percent of her salary for the first year of maternity and parental leave. There are 18 months of parental leave, two of which are reserved for the father. Mother or father can take the time off until a child is 8.

England gives 18 weeks maternity leave. For the first six weeks, a mother gets 90 percent of her salary from the government, and $86 a week thereafter. Britain also has parental leave — 13 weeks, anytime, until a child is 5.

German women get two months of fully paid leave after giving birth. The government and the company kick in. And either parent has the option of three full years in parental leave with some of his or her salary paid and a guarantee of job protection.

In Italy, jobs are protected, too. And there is mandatory leave — two months before the child is born and three months afterward. A mother keeps getting 80 percent of her salary from the government. And either parent can take up to 10 months off until a child is 3.

New parents in Canada can take up to a year of leave. Depending on how much they make, they get between 55 to 80 percent of their salaries.

ABCNEWS' Peter Jennings contributed to this report.