A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
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A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Men who spend time with their children report a boost in happiness and fulfillment that may also extend to the workplace. In one 2018 study, 60 percent of men described childcare hours as “very meaningful,” almost double the percentage of men who described paid work that way.13 At the same time, many new fathers also discover a newfound appreciatio... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Many of the fathers we interviewed said that they felt more motivated after taking leave and that they were considering staying in their organization longer. They also said that the leave led them to change the way they work, becoming more productive and prioritizing their time better. “Having kids made me very aware of how valuable my time is and ... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Parents know how to manage their time better!
The cultural context around paternity leave is changing, as more countries and companies are offering the benefit to new fathers. Worldwide, 90 out of 187 countries offer statutory paid paternity leave,2 with almost four in ten organizations (38 percent) providing paid leave above the statutory minimum.3 In OECD countries, men’s use of parental lea... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
More countries and orgs offer paid paternity leave - yet dads are not taking all of it
Those choices can also create financial benefits for families. Paternity leave reduces the gender wage gap within households by increasing mothers’ wages in the short term and helping to increase total household financial well-being in the long term.11 Research conducted on roughly 9,000 families observed parental pay one year prior to childbirth a... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Paternity leave reduces the gender wage gap by up to 7%
Paternity leave can level the playing field for working mothers. Many fathers emerged from the experience feeling like “being at home, with a strong presence of mind, allowed me to reduce stress on my wife and for her to return to the workforce earlier.” As one father put it, “It’s not just about getting to know your kids at a crucial age but also ... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Paternity leave helped increase mother’s likelihood of returning to work (earlier). And less negative impact on careers (both parents)
Many men also felt that their leave-taking could inspire others to make similar choices. One said that he enjoyed being an example “to friends and family that a successful male can proudly take paternity leave.”
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Take paternity leave loudly and proudly
Parenting together in the first days, weeks, or months of a child’s life is instrumental in shaping family dynamics, our survey showed.
“The beginning of becoming parents was a very important time to be together,” one father said. “We both learned together about the baby, how to raise a child, and the approach we would take as parents and how to be ... See more
“The beginning of becoming parents was a very important time to be together,” one father said. “We both learned together about the baby, how to raise a child, and the approach we would take as parents and how to be ... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Establish co-parenting from the get-go!
Paternity leave can help bring about very strong relationships with children over time. In some instances, according to our respondents, the time spent at home allowed fathers to develop what they characterized as a “special” bond that would last for years to come. In a world where nearly half of fathers report dissatisfaction with the amount of ti... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Paternity leave establishes and strengthens the child-parent bond
Indeed, research indicates that longer periods of paternal leave are associated with more frequent engagement in developmental tasks and caretaking during the first few years of children’s lives.
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Increased length of paternity leave = more involved in care and household duties