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
The benefits of paternity leave begin in the home. Ninety percent of the men we interviewed noticed an improvement in their relationship with their partner. And their partners also felt that the support was critical to forging a stronger bond. “I think I would have resented him if he had been at work and I would have had to do all of this alone,” o... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Paternity leave leads to better outcomes for the parents relationships
Creating an encouraging culture in which taking paternity leave is normalized and men can share their positive experiences is pivotal. Fathers in our survey felt that having the right policy in place wasn’t sufficient if the work culture looked down on them for taking time off. Some pointed out that in many cases “the company was supportive, but th... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
The right policies are not enough - org culture needs to support dads taking leave
Creating an environment where leave does not negatively affect promotions would be ideal. And, at a minimum, increasing transparency about the impact that paternity leave has on career trajectory and promotion timeline would be a valuable starting point. As one father noted, it is hard when there are “not many men taking time off, and managers and ... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Clarify impact on career trajectory when establishing enhanced paternity leave
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
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
After fathers return from leave, many would love to stay just as involved in their children’s lives. Introducing more flexible work arrangements would allow employees, including men, to fulfill more of their family duties (for instance, arranging meetings around taking their children to school or providing time to attend doctor’s appointments).
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Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Returning dads need support and flexibility to remain involved in their child’s life
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
Studies also show that a father’s increased involvement in baby care can mitigate maternal postpartum-depression outcomes. A study of how paternity leave affects maternal postpartum depression showed that a lack of paternal involvement was a significant predictor of the intensity of depressive symptoms.7 It is important to note that mothers’ improv... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Dads involved in the care of a new infant increase health outcomes for mothers
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!