Work-life balance issues

I would like to address two issues that are not specifically related to my organization, but I think they are very relevant exactly because they are more general.
Firstly, I share the opinion that a maternal leave period that is too long could present a ‘dangerous’ paradox. I come from a country where this period is quite long – I believe it could be up to two years – and it really could lead to diminishing career prospects for women. They spend too much time out of the labor market and miss many opportunities for development. I believe a more balanced approach to the length of the maternal leave should be pursued.
Secondly, it is necessary to go beyond the perception that the “life” part of the phrase “work-life balance” pertains exclusively to childcare and housework. It is important to recognize women who are single and/or do not have any children should be covered by work-balance policies as well. Many young unmarried women (and some men) feel they are pressured and required to work more or be available at all times because they do not have children and/or are single.