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Joe Rogan Doesn't Think Men Should Take Paternity Leave Because They Didn't Give Birth

Joe Rogan Doesn't Think Men Should Take Paternity Leave Because They Didn't Give Birth

The podcaster finds it a ridiculous concept that men would need time off work for a newborn.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Joe Rogan is known for saying a lot of controversial statements on his podcast show however he might have really divided people this time.

On an episode where he talked to comedian Bridget Phetasy, the podcaster brought up paternity leave.

They were discussing how US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is currently on leave after adopting twins with his husband.

It was a concept that angered Rogan because the US is currently experiencing shipping delays because of port congestion in California.

That led to Phetasy bringing up how Buttigieg and his husband took a photo of them and their newborns in what looked like a hospital bed and noted how bizarre that was because neither of them gave birth.

Now that the US politician is on leave, Rogan asked why men should be taking time off work.

"Isn't that supposed to be for the person who gave birth?" Rogan asked on his show. "Do men take paternity leave?

"This idea that both parents should get maternity and paternity leave at the same time is a little weird."

Phetasy explained how European countries have paternity leave legislation to ensure both parents get adequate time with their child.

He replied: "That's great. You wanna live in Germany? Because in America you gotta work...we're not in Europe, and for America, this is a new concept.

"When someone in government, who is a man, who didn't give birth, and there is two of them, and they both are off work and they get free money or what happens?

His comedian guest explained how paternity and maternity leave isn't a walk in the park.

She said: "It's not just about the baby, the mom needs support in the aftermath of giving birth. It's not just to bond with the kid. It feels like we don't have to same social cohesion and family structures that we used to have."

Rogan explained how this is why men are more attractive to employers because they don't give birth and therefore don't need to take time off and cost the business.

However, loads of people on social media were furious at the lack of understanding from Rogan on why paternity leave is so important.

Paternity leave is still an emerging concept to Americans as it's only been mandated in five states, New York, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington state, as well as Washington DC.

Despite it only being mandated in a few areas, 45 percent of US businesses offer paid paternity leave, 55 percent have paid maternity leave and 35 percent have paid family leave, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

Featured Image Credit: Joe Rogan Experience/YouTube

Topics: News, joe rogan