German dads jump at chance to stay home with kids

Interesting concept in Germany to help increase the low birth rate...BD

BERLIN (Reuters) - German fathers are staying home with their newborn babies in unexpectedly high numbers in the first year of a generous government subsidy meant to boost the country's low birth rate, officials said on Friday. "It's becoming much more acceptable for someone just starting out in his career to take some time off to be with his kids," Families Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.
Fathers accounted for about 10 percent of subsidy beneficiaries in the third quarter of this year, a maj or shift in the attitude of German men taking time off work for their children, officials said. A parent taking time off work to care for a newborn is paid two-thirds of his or her net monthly salary, up to a maximum of 1,800 euros, tax-free for 12 months. The other parent can take a further two months off to extend the benefit to 14 months.