Parental Leave & Vacation
Weeks of paid leave available
Weeks, at full or partial wage replacement.
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| Measure | Norway | United States |
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What's actually happening
The US has no federal paid parental leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave — and only to employees at companies with 50+ employees who've already worked 1,250+ hours in the past year, leaving a large share of workers ineligible entirely. Only about 27% of private-sector workers have access to any employer-paid family leave. Thirteen states plus DC have built their own paid-leave programs, so actual access varies enormously by where you live and work.
Vacation & Public Holidays
Legally guaranteed paid days off per year
Statutory annual leave + public holidays, days/year.
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| Measure | Norway | United States |
|---|
The US has no federal law requiring any paid vacation or paid public holidays — it's entirely up to the employer. 80% of private-industry workers have access to paid vacation (BLS, March 2025) — typically in the 5–14 day range after a year on the job, rising with tenure — but that leaves roughly 1 in 5 private-sector workers with no paid vacation at all, and paid holidays work the same way: common, but optional.