The Norwegian women’s football league, Toppserien, has announced a joint commitment to strengthen the rights of players, who become pregnant. The League consists of ten clubs, all of which will automatically offer a one-year extension to players who reach the 12th week of pregnancy before the end of their last contract. The contract will have the same terms as the last contract year.
Combining sport with family life
Female athletes that want to combine top-level sport with family life often face many challenges. The joint commitment marks an important step towards ensuring better predictability and security for the players.
Norway is a very progressive country when it comes pregnancy care and maternity leave. For example, parents can choose parental benefits for 49 weeks with full pay or 59 weeks with 80% pay. This is significantly more than the European average of 16 weeks.
The Toppserien set a good example
The Toppserien is one of the youngest top divisions in European women’s football but among the first to introduce a joint commitment like this.
“As employers, we have a responsibility to facilitate the whole person – not just the athlete. In a league with a low average age, it is particularly important that young players experience that it is possible to think about both career and family,” says General Manager of Toppfotball Kvinner, Marianne Solheim.
She continues: “It should be safe to become pregnant as a professional footballer in Norway. We want to create a working life in top football where players do not have to choose between sport and life choices. With this move, the Toppserien is taking an important step towards a more modern and responsible employer’s responsibility.”
The measure is to be considered a minimum level and will apply immediately. The clubs are free to practice the rule more flexibly, if it benefits the player.
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