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That leave is essentially everyone collectively sacrificing to allow humanity to continue on. It’s not really anything close to a vacation for the new parents, and their colleagues still have to pick up any slack. The end result is more humans to keep the world moving.

An equivalent for someone not having kids would be taking time off to volunteer somewhere.

> An equivalent for someone not having kids would be taking time off to volunteer somewhere.

Or taking time off to go out in order to find a partner to potentially have kids with...

Benefit based on a life choice has been found discriminatory in other situations.

Your second point makes sense, but many don't offer that. Some do, some don't. Often volunteering is seen as a thing one gets compensated for (donation to charity) for work you do outside work time.

You’re never going to get the equivalent of it, but a sabbatical is a decent compromise if you can find someplace that offers it.

I want smoking breaks for the non smokers.