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
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... 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
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!
While fathers do not go through the same physical strains as birth mothers (recognizing that some mothers have their children through adoption, surrogacy, etcetera), spending time at home to bond with their child and their partner is critical. Providing a longer paid-leave period, offering more flexibility in the timing of the leave period, or... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Redress the imbalance between maternity and paternity leave
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
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!
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)
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... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
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